Beneficial effects of aminoguanidine on the cardiovascular system of diabetic rats.
BACKGROUND
The study focused on investigating the effect of aminoguanidine on cardiovascular damages in diabetes and the possible mechanisms of its action.


METHODS
Aminoguanidine (AMNG) was used to treat streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, and the effects were compared to those obtained under insulin treatment. Blood metabolic parameters, *NO and ONOO- as well as protein carbonyl levels and cardiac hypertrophy were determined.


RESULTS
Diabetic animals showed increased *NO levels and markedly increased ONOO- generation in the aorta, along with a significant hypertrophy and protein carbonylation in the cardiac tissue. Both AMNG and insulin treatment suppressed the levels of overproduced *NO or ONOO- in the vasculature, but only AMNG was able to prevent hypertrophic alterations and reduce protein carbonylation in the cardiac tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative protein modification, together with cardiac hypertrophy and high generation of *NO and ONOO-, are important early events in the development of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. Aminoguanidine could prevent hypertrophy through inhibition of production of nonenzymatic glycation products rather than via inhibition of *NO production.
Stadler
Krisztián
K
Institute of Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. krisz@chemres.hu
Jenei
Veronika
V
Somogyi
Anikó
A
Jakus
Judit
J
D000818:Animals; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000009:adverse effects*; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006146:Guanidines; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C004479:pimagedine