Effects of gemfibrozil treatment on vascular reactivity of streptozotocin-diabetic rat aorta

ABSTRACT The effects of gemfibrozil treatment on plasma lipids, lipid peroxides and vascular reactivity of aorta were investigated in diabetic rats. Rats were divided randomly into two groups: control and diabetic. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg kg−1). Twelve weeks after the induction of diabetes, some of the control and diabetic rats were started treatment with gemfibrozil (100 mg kg−1 daily; gavage) for 2 weeks. Blood glucose, plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were markedly increased and gemfibrozil treatment restored these parameters in diabetic rats. However high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels did not differ in all experimental groups. In diabetic rats, the endothelium‐dependent relaxations to acetylcholine were decreased when compared with control rats. Gemfibrozil treatment restored the endothelium‐dependent responses to acetylcholine in diabetic rats. The endothelium‐independent relaxation responses to sodium nitroprusside were not altered in all groups. These findings suggest that gemfibrozil treatment has beneficial effects against cardiovascular and metabolic complications of diabetes via its hypolipidaemic and antioxidant properties.