VASCULAR INSULIN-RESISTANCE IN FRUCTOSE-HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Evidence suggests that insulin has direct, potent and physiologically relevant vasodilatory effects. This has led to the hypothesis that in states of insulin resistance, insulin's vasodilatory effects may be bl unted leading to an increase in vascular tone and blood pressure. To e xamine this proposition we studied the direct effects of insulin on th e reactivity of aortae from control and insulin-resistant fructose-hyp ertensive rats to angiotensin II. Insulin incubation caused marked vas odepressor effects in control aortae. Strikingly, this effect was abse nt in aortae from fructose-hypertensive rats. These data suggest the p resence of vascular insulin resistance in fructose-hypertensive rats a nd provide a hemodynamic basis for hypertension in states of insulin r esistance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.