Vascular action of the hypoglycaemic agent gliclazide in diabetic rabbits

• Published in: Diabetologia 1998-01, Vol.41 (1), p.9-15
• Main Authors: PAGANO, P. J, GRISWOLD, M. C, RAVEL, D, COHEN, R. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - pharmacology; Animals; Aorta, Abdominal - drug effects; Aorta, Abdominal - physiology; Aorta, Abdominal - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - physiopathology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Gliclazide - blood; Gliclazide - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; In Vitro Techniques; Insulin - blood; Isometric Contraction - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Muscle Relaxation - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - physiology; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - physiopathology; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenylephrine - pharmacology; Rabbits
• ISSN: 0012-186X; 1432-0428
• DOI: 10.1007/s001250050860

ATP-dependent potassium channel blockers used as hypoglycaemic agents may have effects on vascular disease in diabetes mellitus beyond their effect on blood glucose control. This study was designed to determine the effects of treatment with gliclazide on the isolated abdominal aorta of diabetic rabbits in which endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired by a mechanism involving oxygen-derived free radicals. After induction of diabetes with alloxan, there was no effect of gliclazide (10 mg x kg(-1) day(-1) orally) on blood glucose or insulin levels over a 6 week period. Hence, this permitted an examination of the vascular effects of gliclazide in diabetic rabbits exclusive of metabolic effects. Acetylcholine- and nitric oxide-induced relaxation in aortae from rabbits treated with or without gliclazide were measured in the absence or presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME). Diabetes was associated with significant impairment of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of the abdominal aorta which was not significant in diabetic rabbits treated with gliclazide in vivo. Aortae from diabetic rabbits studied in the presence of L-NAME showed an exaggerated contraction to acetylcholine which was prevented in rabbits treated with gliclazide. Gliclazide treatment did not affect the response to acetylcholine of normal rabbit aorta, and gliclazide when added in vitro had no effect on the response of diabetic rabbit aorta, suggesting that the effect of gliclazide was specific to the abnormality arising with diabetes and was not due to an acute effect of the drug. These data indicate that gliclazide, aside from either a direct antioxidant action or an effect on insulin or glucose levels, may ameliorate diabetic endothelial cell dysfunction.