title: [Treatment with interleukin-2 ameliorates endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of aorta in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes in aortic functions in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats and the effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) on them, we observed the vasorelaxation of aorta to acetylcholine(ACh) and sodium nitroprusside(SNP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, an IL-2 control group, a diabetic group, and diabetic groups administered with a low dose (5 x 10(3) U x kg(-1) x d(-1), s.c.) or a high dose of IL-2 (5 x 10(4) U x kg(-1) x d(-1), s.c.) for five weeks. Aortic rings were isolated for use in vitro isometric force recording studies, and endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by ACh and endothelium-independent relaxation induced by SNP were measured. The serum nitric oxide (NO) levels and the activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACh caused a dose-dependent relaxation that was weakened in the diabetic group. The IL-2 treated groups were less weakened. However, the endothelium-independent relaxation induced by SNP was not significantly different in aortae of all groups. The serum NO levels were significantly increased in diabetic rats treated with IL-2 when compared with diabetic group, but the serum SOD and GSH-PX activities were not improved in diabetic group with IL-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-2 can improve the aortic endothelium-dependent relaxation in diabetic rats, which involved the improvement of endothelial function in aorta, other than the alteration of anti-oxidative capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ling-bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Hui-ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase