Aminoguanidine prevents arterial stiffening in a new rat model of type 2 diabetes

Background Formation of advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) on collagen within the arterial wall may be responsible for the development of diabetic vascular injury. This study focused on investigating the role of aminoguanidine (AG), an inhibitor of AGE formation, in the prevention of noninsulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)‐derived arterial stiffening and cardiac hypertrophy in rats. Materials and methods The NIDDM was induced in male Wistar rats, which were administered intraperitoneally with 180 mg kg−1 nicotinamide (NA) 30 min before an intravenous injection of 50 mg kg−1 streptozotocin (STZ). After induction of diabetes mellitus type 2, animals receiving daily peritoneal injections with 50 mg kg−1 AG for 8 weeks were compared with the age‐matched, untreated, diabetic controls. Results After exposure to AG, the STZ‐NA diabetic rats had improved aortic distensibility, as evidenced by 18·8% reduction of aortic characteristic impedance (P