GUANIDINO COMPOUNDS GENERATE REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

Methylguanidine, guanidinoacetic acid and guanidinosuccinic acid are e ndogenous substances in body tissues. Extremely high levels,of these s ubstances are known to be related to the pathogenesis of epilepsy and renal failure such as uremia. In this study it was demonstrated that m ethylguanidine, guanidinoacetic acid and guanidinosuccinic acid, acid arginine generate hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solution. These finding s suggest that a high level of guanidino compounds accumulating near o r within cells such as neurons (in an epileptogenic focus) or nephrons (in uremic patients) may cause free radical damage leading to these c linical disorders. Arginine may have a similar role in the pathogenesi s of hyperarginemia.