Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on vascular lesions in rats with diabetes mellitus, and explore its possible mechanism. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetes mellitus group and diabetes mellitus rosiglitazone treatment group. Rat models of type 1 diabetes mellitus were established in diabetes mellitus group and diabetes mellitus rosiglitazone treatment group by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozocin (STZ), and intragastric administration of rosiglitazone (1mg/kg) was conducted in diabetes mellitus rosiglitazone treatment group for 8 weeks from the second week after glucostasis. At the end of the eighth week, heart blood samples were collected from each group of rats, and ELISA was employed to detect the levels of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Besides, thoracoabdominal aorta were obtained, histomorphology and ultrastructure changes of vessel wall were observed, and expression of PLA2 protein of vessel wall was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with normal control group, the vascular structure of rats in diabetes mellitus group was damaged severely, both local PLA2 protein expression and serum PLA2 level increased. The vascular lesions in diabetes mellitus rosiglitazone treatment group were less severe than those in diabetes mellitus group. The expression of PLA2 protein of vessel wall and serum PLA2 level in diabetes mellitus rosiglitazone treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group, and significantly lower than those in diabetes mellitus group (P<0.05). Conclusion Rosiglitazone has protective effects on vascular structure of rats with diabetes mellitus, and the mechanism may relate to the inhibition of PLA2 expression and reduction of inflammation.

Key words: diabetes mellitus, vascular lesion, rosiglitazone, phospholipase A2