Effect of salvianolic acid A on vascular reactivity of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to evaluate the beneficial effect of salvianolic acid A (SAA) on the alterations in vascular reactivity of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.


METHODS
Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Following 16 weeks of SAA treatment (1 mg/kg/day), thoracic aortic rings of rats were mounted in organ baths. Contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA) and KCl and relaxant responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were assessed.


RESULTS
Loss of weight, hyperglycemia, elevated content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decline of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were observed in diabetic rats. SAA could reverse these metabolic and biochemical abnormalities. Compared to the control, the maximum contraction (E(max)) to NA, but not sensitivity (pD(2)), increased significantly in diabetic aortas, which was prevented by SAA treatment. However, the response of rat aortas to KCl (E(max) and pD(2)) was not altered either in diabetic group or SAA treatment compared with that of normal control group. We also observed the significant decrease in relaxation to ACh rather than SNP in diabetic group compared with controls, and SAA treatment could revert the ACh response.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that oral administration of SAA can significantly improve glucose metabolism and inhibit oxidative injury as well as protect against impaired vascular responsiveness in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Wang
Shou-Bao
SB
National Center for Pharmaceutical Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China.
Yang
Xiu-Ying
XY
Tian
Shuo
S
Yang
Hai-Guang
HG
Du
Guan-Hua
GH
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D007773:Lactates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D002109:Caffeic Acids; D007773:Lactates; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C066201:salvianolic acid A; D013311:Streptozocin