[NO-dependent mechanisms of ecdysterone protective action on the heart and vessels in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats].

Ecdysterone (100 ng/100 g) chronic oral administration (2 months after STZ (5 mg/100 g) administration) normalized plasma glucose levels in rats. This potent hypoglycemic effect of ecdysterone depend on inhibition of non-constitutive NO synthesis by Ca(2+)-independent iNOS and NADP-dependent nitrate reductase as well as inhibition of L-arginine degradation by arginase result in up-regulation of Ca(2+)-dependent constitutive NO synthesis by eNOS or mithochondrial nNOS in heart and aorta of rats.