Comparative evaluation of different rat models with co-existing diabetes-mellitus and hypertension.

We have evaluated the suitability of different rat models for the study of effects of antihypertensives on cardiovascular and metabolic complications of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. IDDM was induced in Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats by single tail vein injection of STZ (45 mg/kg, i.v.). Neonatal STZ-diabetes (nSTZ) was induced by administering STZ, 70 mg/kg (i.p.) to 5 day old Wistar rat pups. DOCA-hypertension was induced in Wistar and STZ-diabetic rats using deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA, 5 mg/kg, s.c.) and NaCl (2%) in drinking water. Intravenous injection of STZ produced cardinal signs of diabetes mellitus including hyperglycemia, loss of body weight, polyphagia and polydipsia. STZ-diabetic rats also showed hyperlipidemia and hypoinsulinemia. STZ-treated rats developed hypertension and bradycardia. nSTZ rats were found to have mild hyperglycemia and were hypertensive and hyperinsulinemic. The OGTT and ITT revealed that nSTZ rats are insulin resistant. SH rats were also found to be hyperinsulinemic and hypertensive. Although, these rats were found to be insulin resistant, they did not demonstrate hyperglycemia. DOCA-treated STZ-diabetic rats were found to have milder hyperglycemia when compared to STZ-diabetic rats not treated with DOCA. Although, DOCA treatment was not found to alter serum levels of glucose and insulin, results of OGTT revealed enhanced glucose disposal in DOCA-treated Wistar rats, suggesting that DOCA probably produces some effect on glucose homeostasis in rats. The present data also suggest that STZ-diabetic rat may be considered a suitable model for IDDM. On the other hand, nSTZ and SH rats were hyperinsulinemic and insulin resistant and may be used as models to study insulin sensitivity. DOCA-hypertensive rat may not be a suitable model for studying the effects of various drug interventions on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity as DOCA itself appears to influence these factors.

Effect of chronic treatment with spirapril on biochemical parameters in streptozotocin-diabetic and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Present investigation was undertaken to study the effects of 6 week treatment with spirapril (2 mg/kg po) on insulin sensitivity, and serum lipid levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Treatment of rats with spirapril in diabetic and diabetic with hypertensive animals significantly prevented STZ-induced loss of body weight, hypertension, and bradycardia. It also partially but significantly prevented STZ-induced hyperglycaemia in both diabetic Wistar and SH animals. Insulin level was not altered by spirapril treatment. There was significant reduction in cholesterol levels in the diabetic rats. In conclusion, the present investigation presents a number of beneficial effects of spirapril treatment in diabetic and/or hypertensive rats. Spirapril may be considered as one of the drugs of choice in treatment of hypertension when associated with diabetes

Effects of chronic ramipril treatment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effects of chronic oral ramipril (1 mg/kg) treatment in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Single tail vein injection of STZ (45 mg/kg, i.v.) produced a diabetic state exhibiting all the cardinal symptoms such as loss of body weight, polydipsia, polyuria, glucosuria, polyphagia, hypoinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia. The diabetic state was also found to be associated with bradycardia, hypothyroidism, cardiac depression and cardiomyopathy. Ramipril treatment prevented STZ-induced hypertension, bradycardia, hypothyroidism, hyperchosesterolaemia and partially the cardiomayopathy. Ramipril treatment could not, however prevent STZ-induced loss of body weight, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, hyperglycaemia, hypoinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and cardiac depression. Our data suggests that ramipril has a few beneficial effects in the STZ-treated diabetic rats.