The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Volume 4 Issue 3
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- Pages.185-195
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- 2000
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- 1226-4512(pISSN)
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- 2093-3827(eISSN)
Changes in the Endothelin-1-induced Contraction of Aorta in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats
- Cheong, Hyun-Joo (Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University College of Medicine) ;
- Kim, Eun-Jin (Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University College of Medicine) ;
- Kim, Su-Jin (Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University College of Medicine) ;
- Lee, Sun-Hee (Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University College of Medicine) ;
- Rhim, Byung-Yong (Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University College of Medicine)
- Published : 2000.06.21
Abstract
Vascular diseases are significant complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), and the endothelial cells may play a pivotal role in the development of vascular disease in DM. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) released from endothelium is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide and circulating level of ET-1 is increased in a variety of disease states. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of responsiveness to ET-1 in DM, and we experimented on the changes in the ET-1-induced contraction, levels of nitrite and lipid peroxidation, and ET-1 immunoreactivity in aorta from streptozotocin-induced DM rats. DM was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.). The immunoreactive ET-1 levels in endothelial layer of thoracic aorta were much higher in DM rats than control rats. Nitrite in tissue homogenate was decreased and plasma nitrite was increased in DM rats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased in DM rats and cGMP was not significantly different between control and DM rats. ET-1 produced concentration- dependent contractile responses that are significantly attenuated in DM rats compared to controls. In the presence of selective