Direct evidence implicating the asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA)‐dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) pathway in cerebrovascular dysfunction and stroke pathogenesis in mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), whereas dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) is primarily responsible for its metabolism. However, the roles of DDAH1 in cerebrovascular regulation are poorly understood. Furthermore, despite evidence that elevated ADMA levels are associated with worse ischaemic stroke outcomes, there is a paucity of data showing causality. Therefore, this study aimed to address these knowledge gaps. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We examined the effect of an inhibitor of DDAH1 (L-257) on endothelial-nitric oxide-dependent vasodilator responses of mouse middle cerebral arteries (MCA), permeability of immortalised human cerebral endothelial cells and angiogenic activity of MCA. To test for a causal relationship between ADMA and stroke pathogenesis, we examined the effect of L-257 at a concentration that did not alter cardiovascular haemodynamics on infarct volume and functional outcomes in mice after MCA occlusion (MCAo). KEY RESULTS: ) increased ADMA levels without affecting haemodynamics and resulted in larger infarcts and greater deficits after 40-min transient MCAo (tMCAo). However, when mice were subjected to longer MCAo periods (65-min tMCAo or permanent MCAo) to generate moderate/severe insults, L-257 did not significantly affect outcomes. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: DDAH1 contributes to the regulation of cerebrovascular endothelial-nitric oxide-regulated physiological processes in vitro. Furthermore, we provide direct evidence linking elevated ADMA levels and stroke pathogenesis; however, this relationship may be dependent on initial stroke severity.