The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Volume 3 Issue 4
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- Pages.375-382
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- 1999
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- 1226-4512(pISSN)
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- 2093-3827(eISSN)
Enhanced Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase May Be Responsible for Altered Vascular Reactivity in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats
- Jang, Jae-Kwon (Department of Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Research Institute, College of Medicine) ;
- Kang, Young-Jin (Department of Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Research Institute, College of Medicine) ;
- Seo, Han-Geuk (Department of Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Research Institute, College of Medicine) ;
- Seo, Sook-Jae (Faculty of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University) ;
- Chang, Ki-Churl (Department of Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Research Institute, College of Medicine)
- Published : 1999.08.21
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that enhanced generation or actions of nitric oxide (NO) are implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats and diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats is responsible for the alterations of vascular reactivity. Diabetic state was confirmed 28 days after injection of STZ (i.p) in rats by measuring blood glucose. In order to evaluate whether short term (4 weeks) diabetic state is related with altered vascular reactivity caused by iNOS expression, isometric tension experiments were performed. In addition, plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels and expression of iNOS in the lung and aorta of control and STZ-treated rats were compared by using Griess reagent and Western analysis, respectively. Results indicated that STZ-treated rats increased the maximal contractile response of the aorta to phenylephrine (PE), and high