Nicorandil improves diabetes and rat islet beta-cell damage induced by streptozotocin in vivo and in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-nicotinamide nitrate (nicorandil) is a unique anti-anginal agent, reported to act as both an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel opener (PCO) and a nitric oxide donor. It also has an anti-oxidant action. We examined the effects of nicorandil on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced islet beta-cell damage both in vivo and in vitro.


METHODS
STZ-induced diabetic Brown Norway rats (STZ-DM) were fed with nicorandil-containing chow from day 2 (STZ-DM-N48), 3 (STZ-DM-N72), and 4 (STZ-DM-N96) to day 30. Body weight, blood glucose, and plasma insulin were measured every week. For the in vitro assay, neonatal rat islet-rich cultures were performed and cells were treated with nicorandil from 1 h before to 2 h after exposure to STZ for 30 min. Insulin secretion from islet cells was assayed after an additional 24 h of culture. We also observed the effect of nicorandil on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from rat inslinoma cells (RINm5F).


RESULTS
Body weight loss and blood glucose levels of STZ-DM-N48 rats were significantly lower than those of STZ-DM rats. Immunohistochemical staining of insulin showed preservation of insulin-secreting islet beta-cells in STZ-DM-N48 rats. Nicorandil also dose-dependently recovered the insulin release from neonatal rat islet cells treated with STZ in in vitro experiments. Nicorandil did not act as a PCO on neonatal rat islet beta-cells or RINm5F cells, and did not show an inhibitory effect on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. However, the drug inhibited the production of ROS stimulated by high glucose (22.0 mmol/l) in RINm5F cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that nicorandil improves diabetes and rat islet beta-cell damage induced by STZ in vivo and in vitro. It protects islet beta-cells, at least partly, via a radical scavenging effect.
Kasono
K
K
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jichi Medical School, Omiya Medical Center, Saitama, Japan. kasono@josai.ac.jp
Yasu
T
T
Kakehashi
A
A
Kinoshita
N
N
Tamemoto
H
H
Namai
K
K
Ohno
R
R
Ueba
H
H
Kuroki
M
M
Ishikawa
S
S
Kawakami
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020108:Nicorandil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007328:Insulin; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013481:Superoxides; D020108:Nicorandil; D005934:Glucagon; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases