title: Gal-geun-dang-gwi-tang improves diabetic vascular complication in apolipoprotein E KO mice fed a western diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gal-geun-dang-gwi-tang (GGDGT), an herbal medicine, is used to treat hypertension, stroke, and other inflammatory disorders in the clinical setting. Recently, GGDGT was recognized by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GGDGT in a diabetic atherosclerosis model using apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice fed a Western diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mice were divided into four groups: control group, C57BL6J mice receiving a regular diet (RD); ApoE-/- group, ApoE-/- mice receiving a Western diet (WD); rosiglitazone group, ApoE-/- mice receiving rosiglitazone (WD + 10 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1)); GGDGT group, ApoE-/- mice receiving GGDGT (WD + 200 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with GGDGT significantly improved glucose tolerance and plasma lipid levels. In addition, GGDGT ameliorated acetylcholine-induced vascular relaxation of the aortic rings. Immunohistochemical staining showed that GGDGT suppressed intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression; however, expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 were restored in the thoracic aorta and skeletal muscle, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that GGDGT attenuates endothelial dysfunction via improvement of the nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling pathway and improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic atherosclerosis.
authors.forename: So Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Min Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kho
authors.forename: Jung Joo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sun Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine and College of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Republic of Korea. dgkang@wku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dae Gill
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ho Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D066273:Diet, Western; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496315:Nos3 protein, mouse; D006152:Cyclic GMP