title: Effect of 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone on endothelial dysfunction in obese rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  3,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP) has been reported to possess cardiovascular pharmacological effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine whether DHAP could improve endothelial function in obese rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, obesity, and DHAP groups and fed a normal, high-fat, and high-fat plus DHAP (10 mg kg(-1) d(-1)) diet, respectively, for 8 weeks. Endothelial-dependent vasodilatation was assessed. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells were determined. Nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression and superoxide production in aorta were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DHAP treatment significantly decreased plasma triglycerides (0.94 ± 0.31 mmol/l versus 1.36 ± 0.29 mmol/l, p < 0.05) and free fatty acids (0.53 ± 0.15 mmol/l versus 0.99 ± 0.24 mmol/l, p < 0.05), reduced serum tumor necrosis factor α (35.56 ± 9.28 pg/ml versus 68.3 ± 10.24 pg/ml, p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (2.94 ± 0.58 pg/ml versus 6.45 ± 0.70 pg/ml, p < 0.05), and increased serum adiponectin levels (164.5 ± 34.5 μg/l versus 84.5 ± 20.4 μg/l, p < 0.05). DHAP enhanced endothelial-dependent vasodilatation and improved endothelial function in obese rats (p < 0.05). eNOS activity and NO production in endothelial cells significantly decreased and NF-κB activation and superoxide production in aorta significantly increased in obese rats compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, DHAP treatment significantly up-regulated the eNOS-NO pathway and decreased NF-κB activation and superoxide production (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHAP improved endothelial function in obese rats. This beneficial effect may be associated with up-regulation of the eNOS-NO pathway by improving lipid metabolism and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and.
authors.forename: Zongguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Xuewei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rujiang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C032940:3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone
keywords: 3,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone; endothelial function; obesity