title: Effect of vanadate on elevated blood glucose and depressed cardiac performance of diabetic rats.
abstract: The trace element vanadium has an unclear biological function. Vanadate, an oxidized form of vanadium, appears to have an insulin-like action. The effect of vanadate on blood glucose and cardiac performance was assessed in female Wistar rats 6 weeks after they were made diabetic with streptozotocin. When vanadate was administered for a 4-week period to the diabetic rats, their blood glucose was not significantly different from that of nondiabetic controls despite a low serum insulin. In contrast, blood glucose was increased about threefold in the diabetic rats that were not treated with vanadate; these rats also had low insulin levels. Cardiac performance was depressed in the untreated diabetic animals, but the cardiac performance of the vanadate-treated diabetic animals was not significantly different from that of nondiabetic controls. Thus vanadate controlled the high blood glucose and prevented the decline in cardiac performance due to diabetes.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Heyliger
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tahiliani
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McNeill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology; D014638:Vanadates; D014639:Vanadium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014639:Vanadium; D014638:Vanadates; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases