Study of the reversibility of endothelial dysfunction in a rat model of diabetes mellitus: experimental treatment by transplantation of pancreatic islets.
OBJECTIVE
To study the endothelial dysfunction induced in a rat model of diabetes mellitus, and to find out if transplantation of islet cells is an effective treatment for the endothelial damage.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
University hospital, Spain.


METHODS
24 Wistar rats in 3 groups of each: control, diabetic and transplanted.


METHODS
Diabetes was induced in the diabetic and transplanted animals by intravenous injection of streptozocin 45 mg/Kg. In the transplanted group fresh pancreatic islet from syngeneic donor rats (1200-1500/receptor) were injected intraportally 16 weeks after the induction of diabetes. The rats were killed at 18 weeks. Excision of rings of thoracic aorta, which were contracted with 0(-5) M phenylephrine. Once the maximum contraction had been reached relaxation was induced with 10(-5) M acetylcholine and then 10(-4) M independent nitroprusside endothelial vasodilator was added.


METHODS
Blood glucose concentrations throughout the experiment. Mean vasodilator response to acetylcholine as an indicator of recovery of endothelial function.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) vasodilatation in the control group differed significantly from that in the diabetic group (27.6 (3.9) g compared with 20.1 (3.9) p = 0.002). The transplanted group also differed from the diabetic group (25.8 (3.6) g, p = 0.009). There was no significant difference between the transplanted group and the control group (p = 0.33).


CONCLUSIONS
In rats diabetes mellitus causes considerable endothelial damage, which can be reversed by transplantation of pancreatic islets.
Ordóñez Fernández
A
A
Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain.
Hernández Fernández
A
A
Borrego Domínguez
J M
JM
Gutiérrez Carretero
E
E
Calderón Sanchez
E
E
Ruiz Perez
M
M
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D009599:Nitroprusside; D013311:Streptozocin; D000109:Acetylcholine