Metformin delays the manifestation of diabetes and vascular dysfunction in Goto-Kakizaki rats by reduction of mitochondrial oxidative stress.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that hyperglycaemia induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondria and that the oxidative stress thereby exerted is diminished by treatment with metformin. As a parameter of mitochondrial ROS formation, the activity of mitochondrial aconitase activity was determined using Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats as model of type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
In parallel with the development of diabetes (glucose, insulin), the generation of oxidative stress was determined in aortic tissue, heart and kidney of GK rats by measurement of lipid peroxides, oxidized proteins (carbonyl activity) and mitochondrial aconitase activity. Vascular activity was determined in aortae by measuring the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine, and vasoconstriction in response to phenylephrine.


RESULTS
At the age of 12-14 weeks, blood glucose levels rose dramatically from 7.5 up to 16.2 mM, indicating the manifestation of an overt diabetes. In addition, the glucose tolerance was impaired. The increase in blood glucose was not accompanied by changes in plasma insulin. Whereas the lipid peroxides in plasma only showed a tendency to increase, the amount of oxidized proteins (carbonyl moieties) increased from 4.6 to 10.9 micromol/mg protein (2.4 fold). In addition, the lipid peroxides in tissue were increased. Mitochondrial aconitase activity was reduced in the aorta and kidney, but not in the heart of diabetic animals. Treatment with metformin nearly normalized the hyperglycaemia and prevented the rise in carbonyl, tissue lipid peroxides and the fall in aconitase activity. Whereas the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was not affected by the diabetes, the reaction of aortae in response to phenylephrine was strongly enhanced, changes which were prevented by treatment with metformin.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations provide in vivo evidence that the generation of ROS plays an important role in the onset of diabetes and the development of vascular dysfunction in GK rats with type 2 diabetes.
Rösen
Peter
P
German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Institute at the Heinrich-Heine University, Auf'm Hennekamp 65, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. roesen@uni-duesseldorf.de
Wiernsperger
Nicolas F
NF
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin