CHRONIC GLICLAZIDE TREATMENT AFFECTS BASAL AND POSTISCHEMIC CARDIAC-FUNCTION IN DIABETIC RATS

1. A 6-week gliclazide treatment improved left ventricular developed p ressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular pressure-rate products in isolated working hearts from streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. 2. Post-ischemic recovery in heart rate, left v entricular developed pressure, left Ventricular end-diastolic pressure , left ventricular pressure-rate products and cardiac work were also s hown in gliclazide-treated diabetic rats. 3. Gliclazide treatment did not modify the degree of insulinopenia and hyperglycaemia, nor the myo cardial energy metabolism during ischemia-reperfusion. 4. The results suggest that the gliclazide treatment has a cardioprotective effect on basal and post-ischemic cardiac functions of chronic diabetes.