title: The effects of apelin treatment on a rat model of type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apelin is an adipokine that plays a role in the regulation of many biological functions in mammals including the neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, immune systems, glucose homeostasis and obesity. It can act via autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and exocrine signaling. We aimed to identify the role of apelin pathophysiology of diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  37 male Wistar Albino rats aged 8-10 weeks were divided in four experimental groups as: control group (C) control+apelin group (C+A), diabetic group (D) diabetic+apelin group (D+A). Apelin and apelin receptor mRNA gene expressions in heart and aorta tissue were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The plasma levels of insulin and plasma apelin were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of insulin, glucose, blood pressure levels were significantly lower in D+A group. There was no statistically significant difference for level of apelin between diabetic groups. On the other hand, differences for apelin and APJ mRNA expression in heart and vascular tissue were found significant between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apelin can be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of type II diabetes in the future.
authors.affiliation: University of Dumlupınar, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kütahya, Turkey. Electronic address: raziyeakcilar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Raziye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akcılar
authors.affiliation: University of Pamukkale, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.affiliation: University of Pamukkale, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caner
authors.affiliation: University of Dumlupınar, Faculty of Medicine, Kütahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akcılar
authors.affiliation: University of Dumlupınar, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kütahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceylan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayada
authors.affiliation: University of Pamukkale, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elmas
authors.affiliation: University of Pamukkale, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: T Olgun
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Özcan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000073861:Apelin; D000075244:Apelin Receptors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C115436:APLN protein, human; C104575:APLNR protein, human; D000073861:Apelin; D000075244:Apelin Receptors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Alloxan; Apelin; Apelin receptor (APJ); Blood pressure; Glucose metabolism; Type II diabetes