title: Plasma endothelin levels and vascular responses at different temporal stages of streptozotocin diabetes.
abstract: While alterations in the release and action of endothelial derived vasoactive factors such as endothelin- and endothelial derived relaxing factor (EDRF) occur in diabetes mellitus, the nature and direction of these changes is controversial. We examined the role of diabetes duration on endothelin- plasma levels and vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin-1 in aortic rings from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Endothelin-1 plasma levels were attenuated at 2-weeks, but conversely elevated at 14-weeks, after diabetes induction. Similarly, maximal vasoconstriction to endothelin-1 in aorta was exaggerated in 2-week, but attenuated in 14-week diabetic rats. Also, sensitivity of aorta to endothelin-1 was enhanced in the 14-week group. Neither nitric oxide synthase inhibition with nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester, nor endothelium removal affected alterations in maximal vasoconstriction, but both abolished changes in sensitivity to endothelin-1. Endothelium dependent (acetylcholine-evoked) vasorelaxation responses were attenuated in 14-week, but not 2-week, diabetic rats, while endothelium independent (sodium nitroprusside-evoked) responses remained unchanged. Together, these data indicate a deficiency in EDRF production in the 14-week group. Elevated plasma glucose and attenuated insulin levels were present in both groups, but plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were elevated only in 14-week rats. We conclude that differences in the pre-existing duration of diabetes differentially affect both plasma levels and action of endothelin-1. These changes might be linked to coincident diabetes duration dependent changes in EDRF production and plasma lipid levels. Such a shift in the production and action of endothelial derived relaxing and contracting factors might contribute to the characteristic early and late stage cardiovascular complications of diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hopfner
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000109:Acetylcholine