title: Improved islet morphology after blockade of the renin- angiotensin system in the ZDF rat.
abstract: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has an important role in the endocrine pancreas. Although angiotensin II has significant effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis, the contribution of the RAS to changes in islet structure and function associated with type 2 diabetes is yet to be defined. This study examined the specific effects of RAS blockade on islet structure and function in diabetes. Thirty-six male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, 10 weeks of age, were randomized to receive the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril (8 mg/l in drinking water; n = 12), irbesartan (15 mg/kg via gavage; n = 12), or no treatment (n = 12) for 10 weeks. Results were compared with lean littermates (ZL) (n = 12) studied concurrently. ZDF rats had increased intra-islet expression of components of the RAS correlating with increased intraislet fibrosis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Disordered islet architecture, seen in ZDF rats, was attenuated after treatment with perindopril or irbesartan. Islet fibrogenesis was also diminished, as measured by picrosirius staining and expression of collagens I and IV. Gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 was increased in the ZDF pancreas (ZL, 1.0 +/- 0.1; ZDF, 2.0 +/- 0.3; P < 0.05) and reduced after blockade of the RAS (ZDF + P, 1.3 +/- 0.2; ZDF + I, 1.5 +/- 0.1; vs. ZDF, both P < 0.05). Improvements in structural parameters were also associated with functional improvements in first-phase insulin secretion. These findings provide a possible mechanism for the reduced incidence of new-onset diabetes that has been observed in clinical trials of RAS blockade.
authors.affiliation: Danielle Alberti Memorial Centre for Diabetic Complications, Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tikellis
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wookey
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Candido
authors.forename: Sof
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulos
authors.forename: Merlin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002455:Cell Division; D005215:Fasting; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D000077405:Irbesartan; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020913:Perindopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001786:Blood Glucose; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077405:Irbesartan; D020913:Perindopril