Chronic administration of resveratrol prevents biochemical cardiovascular changes in fructose-fed rats.
BACKGROUND
There seems to be a link between the cluster of risk factors known as insulin resistance syndrome with endothelial dysfunction. Resveratrol (3,4,5-trihydroxyestilbene) (RV), an antioxidant found in many components of the human diet, has been proposed as an effective agent in the prevention of several pathologic processes. This study examined the effect of chronic administration of RV on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in cardiovascular tissues and on plasma lipid peroxidation in fructose-fed rats (FFR), an experimental model of this syndrome.


METHODS
Male Sprague Dawley rats were separated into four groups: Control, Control + RV, FFR, and FFR + RV (n = 8 in each group). The RV (10 mg/kg/d by gavage) and fructose (10% in drinking water) were administered for 45 days. Metabolic variables and systolic blood pressure (BP) were measured. The eNOS activity was estimated in the mesenteric arterial bed and cardiac tissue homogenates by conversion of (3)H-arginine to (3)H-citrulline. Lipid peroxidation was estimated through the measurement of plasmatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS).


RESULTS
The RV chronic treatment prevented the increase in systolic BP and cardiac hypertrophy, restored FFR mesenteric and cardiac eNOS activities, and decreased the elevated TBARS levels that characterize FFR, without an effect on other metabolic variables.


CONCLUSIONS
In concert with other effects, the increase in eNOS activity may contribute to the protective properties attributed to RV and, thus, to its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. These results suggest that an adequate supplementation of RV might help to prevent or delay the occurrence of atherogenic cardiovascular diseases associated to insulin-resistant states.
Miatello
Roberto
R
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo-CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina. rmiatell@fcm.uncu.edu.ar
Vázquez
Marcela
M
Renna
Nicolás
N
Cruzado
Montserrat
M
Zumino
Amira Ponce
AP
Risler
Norma
N
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000077185:Resveratrol; D012307:Risk Factors; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D013267:Stilbenes; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D005632:Fructose; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D000077185:Resveratrol