In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of agmatine, nitric oxide (NO), arginine, and glutamate, which are the metabolites in the polyamine pathway, on the performance of executive functions (EF) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The ADHD group included 35 treatment-naive children (6–14 years old) who were ewly diagnosed with ADHD. The control group consisted of 35 healthy children with the same age and sex, having no previous psychiatric disorders. In the study groups, Stroop test (ST) and trail making test (TMT) were used to monitor EF, and blood samples were collected to measure agmatine with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and NO, glutamate, and arginine with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The EFs were significantly impaired in the ADHD group. The agmatine and arginine levels of the ADHD group were significantly higher than their peers. The NO and glutamate levels were also higher in the ADHD group compared to the control group, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Children with ADHD had more difficulties during EF tasks compared to healthy children. The elevated NO and glutamate levels may be related with the impairment during EF tasks. Therefore, agmatine and arginine may increase to improve EF tasks through its inhibitory effect on the synthesis of NO and glutamate. Further studies are needed about polyamine pathway molecules to shed light on the pathophysiology of ADHD.

在这项研究中，我们旨在研究胍丁胺、一氧化氮 (NO)、精氨酸和谷氨酸，它们是多胺途径中的代谢物，对注意力缺陷多动障碍 (ADHD) 中执行功能 (EF) 的影响. ADHD 组包括 35 名刚接受过治疗的儿童（6-14 岁），他们被诊断出患有 ADHD。对照组由 35 名同龄、同性别、既往无精神障碍的健康儿童组成。研究组采用Stroop试验（ST）和Trail Making test（TMT）监测EF，采集血样，超高效液相色谱法测定胍丁胺，酶联法测定NO、谷氨酸和精氨酸。免疫吸附试验（ELISA）。ADHD 组的 EF 显着受损。ADHD 组的胍丁胺和精氨酸水平显着高于同龄人。与对照组相比，ADHD 组的 NO 和谷氨酸水平也更高，但这些差异没有达到统计学意义。与健康儿童相比，患有 ADHD 的儿童在 EF 任务中遇到更多困难。升高的 NO 和谷氨酸水平可能与 EF 任务期间的损伤有关。因此，胍丁胺和精氨酸可能通过其对 NO 和谷氨酸合成的抑制作用而增加以改善 EF 任务。需要进一步研究多胺途径分子以阐明 ADHD 的病理生理学。但这些差异没有达到统计学意义。与健康儿童相比，患有 ADHD 的儿童在 EF 任务中遇到更多困难。升高的 NO 和谷氨酸水平可能与 EF 任务期间的损伤有关。因此，胍丁胺和精氨酸可能通过其对 NO 和谷氨酸合成的抑制作用而增加以改善 EF 任务。需要进一步研究多胺途径分子以阐明 ADHD 的病理生理学。但这些差异没有达到统计学意义。与健康儿童相比，ADHD 儿童在 EF 任务中遇到更多困难。升高的 NO 和谷氨酸水平可能与 EF 任务期间的损伤有关。因此，胍丁胺和精氨酸可能通过其对 NO 和谷氨酸合成的抑制作用而增加以改善 EF 任务。需要进一步研究多胺途径分子以阐明 ADHD 的病理生理学。