effect of Nifedipine and Verapamil on vasculopathy in chronic experimental diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

Since in diabetes the permeability of vessels is impaired, therefore late onset complications of diabetes originated from vascular changes. Calcium plays a major role in inducing and starting process that cause vascular injury and increased permeability. The aim of this study was to indicate whether calcium channel blockers [nifedipine and verapamil] could prevent vascular permeability. In this experimental interventional study, male rats, divided into seven groups randomly. Diabetes induced by subcutaneous injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. Vasculopathy was evaluated by extravasations of Evans blue dye and water content of tissue. Animals received 40 mg/kg of verapamil and 10 mg/kg of nifedipine orally daily. Results of this study showed that extravasations of Evans blue dye was increased significantly [P<0.001] in diabetic group compare to control group, while verapamil decreased extravasations of Evans blue significantly compare to diabetic control group [P<0.01], however nifedipine had no inhibitory effect an water content of tissues did not change significantly. The body weight of animals in diabetic group decreased significantly [p<0.05] at the end of experiment compare to the beginning of experiment, but verapamil and nifedipine have prevented the decrease of body weight in diabetic group. The results of this study suggest that using calcium channel blockers particularly verapamil can inhibit diabetic vasculopathy and prevent the body weight reduction effectively