The present invention provides a method of reducing polyamine levels intracellularly by administering an arginine derivative to a mammal. The present invention also provides a pharmacological composition comprising agmatine in a physiologically acceptable buffer. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of treating conditions resulting from abnormally elevated intracellular polyamine levels by administering an arginine derivative or agmatine to the cells in condition such as cancer or hypertrophy. The present invention further provides a method of regulating inducible nitric oxide synthase while maintaining constitutive nitric oxide synthase, by administering agmatine or an arginine derivative to a mammal. The present invention further provides a method of treating septic shock in a mammal, by administering a composition comprising agmatine or an arginine derivative to a mammal. In addition, the present invention provides a method of treating conditions resulting from excessive inducible nitric oxide production, including treatment of septic shock, arthritis, glomerulonephritis, angiogenesis in tumors, transplantation and tissue graft rejection, neurodegeneration, stroke, ischemic injury, chronic inflammation and diabetes.
展开▼
