HYPERTENSION, HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA, AND IMPAIRED ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT VASCULAR RELAXATION IN MICE LACKING INSULIN-RECEPTOR SUBSTRATE-1

Insulin resistance is often associated with atherosclerotic diseases i n subjects with obesity and impaired glucose tolerance, This study exa mined the effects of insulin resistance on coronary risk factors in IR S-1 deficient mice, a nonobese animal model of insulin resistance, Blo od pressure and plasma triglyceride let els were significantly higher in IRS-1 deficient mice than in normal mice, Impaired endothelium-depe ndent vascular relaxation was also observed in IRS-1 deficient mice, F urthermore, lipoprotein lipase activity was lower than in normal mice, suggesting impaired lipolysis to be involved in the increase in plasm a triglyceride levels under insulin-resistant conditions, Thus, insuli n resistance plays an important role in the clustering of coronary ris k factors which may accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis in s ubjects with insulin resistance.