title: Endothelin and free radicals modulate microvascular responses in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The quantitative contribution of endothelin and free radicals in modulating peripheral endothelial and smooth muscle-dependent vascular responses in 4 weeks streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Skin blood flow was monitored in base of blisters raised on the hind footpad. Smooth muscle-dependent vasodilation was tested using sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Endothelial-mediated inflammatory responses were induced via either electrical stimulation (ES) of the sciatic nerve or substance P (SP) perfusion over the blister base. Role of endothelin and free radicals was examined using ET-A or ET-B receptor antagonists (BQ-123 or BQ-788) and superoxide anions or hydroxyl radicals scavengers (superoxide dismutase (SOD) or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)). Diabetic rats showed a significant reduction (75%) in SNP responses that coincided with a 70 and 60% reduction in responses to ES and SP. Their basal plasma extravasation (PE) was significantly higher while PE response to SP was significantly reduced. BQ-788, was more potent than BQ-123, improving responses to ES and SP in diabetic rats by 85%. Likewise, NAC was more potent than SOD normalizing the ES response and improving SP response by 85%. Combined treatment with BQ-123 and SOD normalized all vasodilatation responses in diabetic rats. BQ-123 and BQ-788 were equally potent normalizing the PE responses to SP whereas SOD and NAC had no effect. We conclude that endothelin and free radicals play a role in altering microvascular function in diabetes and that their effect could be reversed early in the disease.
authors.affiliation: National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bassirat
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khalil
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D016232:Endothelins / Q000502:physiology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D012584:Sciatic Nerve; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D013311:Streptozocin; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D016232:Endothelins; D005609:Free Radicals; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010880:Piperidines; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D013373:Substance P; C086539:BQ 788; D013311:Streptozocin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu); D000111:Acetylcysteine