Study of the reversibility of endothelial dysfunction in a rat model of diabetes mellitus: Experimental treatment by transplantation of pancreatic islets
Ao. Fernandez et al., Study of the reversibility of endothelial dysfunction in a rat model of diabetes mellitus: Experimental treatment by transplantation of pancreatic islets, EURO J SURG, 167(9), 2001, pp. 695-699
Objective: To study the endothelial dysfunction induced in a rat model of d
iabetes mellitus, and to find out if transplantation of islet cells is an e
ffective treatment for the endothelial damage.
Design: Experimental study. Setting: University hospital, Spain.
Animals: 24 Wistar rats in 3 groups of each: control, diabetic and transpla
nted.
Interventions: Diabetes was induced in the diabetic and transplanted animal
s by intravenous injection of streptozocin 45 mg/Kg. In the transplanted gr
oup fresh pancreatic islet from syngeneic donor rats (1200-1500/receptor) w
ere injected intraportally 16 weeks after the induction of diabetes. The ra
ts were killed at 18 weeks. Excision of rings of thoracic aorta, which were
contracted with 0(-5) M phenylephrine. Once the maximum contraction had be
en reached relaxation was induced with 10(-5) M acetylcholine and then 10(-
4) M independent nitroprusside endothelial vasodilator was added.
Main outcome measures: Blood glucose concentrations throughout the experime
nt. Mean vasodilator response to acetylcholine as an indicator of recovery
of endothelial function.
Results: The mean (SD) vasodilatation in the control group differed signifi
cantly from that in the diabetic group (27.6 (3.9) g compared with 20.1 (3.
9) g p = 0.002). The transplanted group also differed from the diabetic gro
up (25.8 (3.6) g, p = 0.009). There was no significant difference between t
he transplanted group and the control group (p = 0.33).
Conclusion: In rats diabetes mellitus causes considerable endothelial damag
e, which can be reversed by transplantation of pancreatic islets.