ABSTRACT
Aim To evaluate the effects of pioglitazone,a thiazolidinedione on the heart of diabetic animals.Methods Streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats were divided into two groups: untreated-DM and treated-DM. Pioglitazone(20 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) was mixed in water fed to the diabetic treated group.After 5 wk,the left ventricle mass index(LVI),cardiomyocytes size and diameters,the content of hydroxyproline and collagen volume fraction(CVF) were measured.The left myocardium sections were made for HE,MASSON straining to observe the level of myocardial cells' hypertrophy and the accumulation of collagen individually and were examined by light microscope.Myocardial ultrastructure was studied by electronic microscope.Results Compared with untreated-DM group,the LVI,cardiomyocytes size and diameters,the content of hydroxyproline and CVF were lower in treated-DM group(P