Gender related differential effects of Omega-3E treatment on diabetes-induced left ventricular dysfunction

The present study was designed to determine whether there are beneficial effects of intake of Ω-3E (containing 70% pure omega-3 and 2% natural vitamin E) in cardiac dysfunction of diabetic rats. We also examined whether there are gender-related differences in the responses to the intake of Ω-3E on the heart dysfunction. Experiments were performed by using Langendorff-perfused hearts from normal, diabetic (with 50 mg/kg streptozotocin), and Ω-3E (50 mg/kg body weight/day) treated diabetic 3-month-old Wistar rats. Ω-3E treatment of the diabetics caused small, but significant decrease (13% and 14% female versus male) in the blood glucose level. Ω-3E treatment of the diabetic female rats did not prevent diabetes-induced decrease in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) with respect to the control female rats. On the other hand, the treatment of diabetic male rats caused significant recovery in depressed LVDP. Furthermore, such treatment of diabetic female and male rats caused significant recovery in depressed rates of changes of developed pressure. This effect was more significant in males. Besides, Ω-3E caused significant further lengthening in the diabetes-induced increased time to the peak of the developed pressure in females, while it normalized the lengthening in the relaxation of the developed pressure in diabetic males. In addition, Ω-3E treatment caused significant restorations in the diabetes-induced altered activities of antioxidant enzymes without any significant gender discrepancy. Present data show that there are gender related differences in diabetic heart dysfunction and the response to antioxidant treatment.