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Query: UMLS:C0011849 (diabetes)
 277,896 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To investigate the influence of diabetes on the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system, we have examined the effects of various agents on the reactivity of the vascular smooth muscle of aortic strips obtained from age-matched control and diabetic rats. Norepinephrine (NE) contracted the aortic strips obtained from age-matched control and diabetic rats in a concentration-dependent manner, but maximal contraction of aortic strips in response to NE was enhanced in diabetic rats. The EC50 value for NE in the diabetic aortic strips was similar to that in the aorta from age-matched controls. Ca-induced contracture of the aortic strips which were depolarized with isotonic K+ (60 mM) was potentiated in aortic strips from diabetic rats, when compared with those from age-matched controls. Ca-induced contracture of aortic strips, preincubated with 10(-6) M NE and 10(-6) M nicardipine in Ca2+-free Krebs-Henseleit solution (KHS), was not significantly different in age-matched control and diabetic rats. Bay K 8644, an activator of calcium channels, produced an increase in the force of contraction of the slightly depolarized aorta from diabetic rats. Phasic contraction induced by phenylephrine (PE) in the presence of 10(-6) M nicardipine in Ca2+-free KHS was significantly enhanced in aortic strips obtained from diabetic rats. These results demonstrate that NE-induced contraction of the aortic strips obtained from diabetic rats was significantly enhanced, and that this increased contractile response of the aorta to NE may be due to an increased influx of extracellular calcium through the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, but not through the receptor-operated Ca2+ channels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Mechanisms of increased responses of the aorta to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 246 83

This study was performed on male Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus of 11 months duration. There were two diabetic groups; both were given a long-acting insulin twice weekly to reduce morbidity. One group received no additional treatment whilst the other was given the aldose reductase inhibitor, sorbinil, by dietary admixture (approximate dose was 30 mg/day/kg body weight). At the end of the protocol the lenses of the diabetic rats given insulin alone showed markedly reduced dry weight (70% of controls; p less than 0.01) with increased water content (152% of controls; p less than 0.01). Both of these changes were absent from the lenses of the sorbinil-treated diabetic rats. Lenses from both groups of diabetic rats had elevated glucose contents, with greater levels in the group which received insulin alone. Polyol pathway metabolites were also raised in the diabetic lenses, though sorbinil treatment had markedly attenuated sorbitol accumulation without affecting fructose levels. Lens myo-inositol was almost absent from the diabetic rats which received only insulin (6% of control levels relative to lens dry weight; p less than 0.01). This depletion was substantially attenuated, but not prevented in the sorbinil-treated group (58% of control levels). In the iris the noradrenaline and adrenaline contents were unaltered in either diabetic group. In startling contrast, the iris content of substance P-like immunoreactivity was almost trebled in the insulin alone-treated diabetic rats (282% of controls; p less than 0.01), an effect which was prevented completely by sorbinil (127% of controls; not significantly different).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Effects of sorbinil treatment in rats with chronic streptozotocin-diabetes; changes in lens and in substance P and catecholamines in the iris. 247 May 51

The monoaminergic innervation of the central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by long and short projecting neurons. The neurological correlates of diabetes are usually referred to as processes of degenerative atrophy affecting motor and sensory peripheral nerves. We have found that the long serotoninergic axons innervating the spinal cord and the cerebral cortex are unaffected in diabetic animals and that the noradrenergic innervation of the cortex is normal as well. The serotonin content is doubled in the hypothalamus with no apparent alteration of 5-HIAA levels, suggesting a supernumerary innervation that is accompanied by a reduced release. In pons medulla oblongata, serotonin and dopamine with the relative metabolites 5-HIAA and DOPAC are significantly reduced, whereas noradrenaline is markedly increased. In the hippocampus, there is a reduction of serotonin content. The serotoninergic alterations are peculiar as suggested by the sparing of the most distal projections that is accompanied by hyperinnervation of the hypothalamus and the loss of shorter collaterals in the pons medulla oblongata. In the hypothalamus and in the striatum of diabetic rats, there are significant higher levels of substance P and met-enkephalin, respectively. The abundance of proenkephalin A mRNA is also increased in the striatum. Conversely, in the lumbar cord of diabetic animals, the levels of substance P and met-enkephalin are significantly reduced. Such alterations likely reflect retrograde degeneration of the peripheral sensory input. The CNS changes are unlikely due to vascular abnormalities in the brain of diabetic rats; rather, we suggest that the persistent lack of insulin is the major factor involved as a trigger of the monoaminergic changes in the diabetic brain.
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PMID:Denervation and hyperinnervation in the nervous system of diabetic animals. II. Monoaminergic and peptidergic alterations in the diabetic encephalopathy. 248 Apr 54

1. The effects of a six week period of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on tissue catecholamines and on in vivo noradrenaline turnover were assessed in rats. 2. Noradrenaline concentrations measured in heart ventricle, terminal ileum, vas deferens, spleen and adrenal tissue from the diabetic rats were all found to be elevated compared to those found in control rat tissues. The adrenaline contents of the adrenal glands were also raised in these animals. 3. Noradrenaline turnover in heart ventricle, terminal ileum and vas deferens was estimated from the decline in tissue content of the amine following inhibition of its synthesis with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Turnover was found to be increased in all three tissues. 4. The involvement of the polyol pathway in the above changes was investigated by examining the effects of continuous treatment with an aldose reductase inhibitor, Statil (ICI 128436) or dietary myo-inositol supplementation. Either treatment was found to prevent or reduce the increases in tissue noradrenaline and in its turnover. Myo-inositol treatment also partially prevented the rise in adrenal adrenaline. 5. It is concluded that the elevation of tissue catecholamines and of noradrenaline turnover by diabetes was related to myo-inositol depletion secondary to excessive sorbitol synthesis. Possible mechanisms for the observed increase in noradrenaline turnover could involve Na+, K+-ATPase depression.
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PMID:Tissue noradrenaline and the polyol pathway in experimentally diabetic rats. 250 23

G protein-mediated effects on cAMP production were evaluated in the corpus striatum of diabetic rats 5 and 14 weeks after alloxan injection by measuring both D1-receptor-induced stimulation and D2-receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate-cyclase activity. At 5 weeks of diabetes, no obvious alterations of G protein functions were detected. Both dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase and bromocriptine-induced inhibition of enzyme activity were indeed similar in control and diabetic animals. Fourteen weeks after alloxan injection, profound alterations were observed. Dopamine-stimulated cAMP production was markedly increased in diabetic rats, whereas bromocriptine ability to reduce cAMP formation was almost abolished at this late stage of diabetes. Hypoactivity of Gi/Go proteins was also confirmed by the reduced ability of the GTP non-hydrolyzable analog GTP-gamma-S to inhibit forskolin-stimulation of adenylate cyclase. These results show an apparent functional imbalance between Gs and Gi/Go-mediated transduction mechanisms, with an increased efficacy of Gs activity likely due to the loss of Gi/Go inhibitory functions. Concomitantly with such transductional alteration detected in chronic diabetes, we observed a marked increase of the striatal content of met-enkephalin, which is known to utilize Gi/Go proteins for inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The measurement of other transmitters (vaso-active intestinal peptide, substance P, serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine) did not reveal any difference with respect to controls. The observed transductional defect in diabetic animals and the increased content and/or hyperinnervation by the metenkephalinergic system could be correlated as mutual compensatory mechanisms.
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PMID:Denervation and hyperinnervation in the nervous system of diabetic animals: III. Functional alterations of G proteins in diabetic encephalopathy. 251 14

Noradrenaline levels in the superior cervical ganglion and sciatic nerve were significantly reduced in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Sciatic nerve sheath in vitro biosynthesis of 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6KPGF1 alpha; the stable metabolite of prostacyclin) was significantly reduced but not in acute experimental diabetes. Nerves with reduced 6KPGF1 alpha had an excessive response to arachidonic acid stimulation. We suggest that the reduced endogenous biosynthesis of prostacyclin is due to reduced substrate availability, possibly due to the reduced noradrenaline. The implications of these findings on the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy are discussed. Neuropathy was found to involve all fibre populations studied (motor, sensory and sympathetic) and progressed with duration of diabetes.
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PMID:Prostacyclin and noradrenaline in peripheral nerve of chronic experimental diabetes in rats. 252 6

Retention of one-trial passive avoidance training was compared in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. Also compared were corticosterone concentrations associated with both training and retention testing, catecholamine excretion related to training, and regional brain catecholamine concentrations accompanying retention testing. Diabetic rats showed significantly better retention for the task than did nondiabetic rats. Associated with retention differences, diabetic rats had higher epinephrine excretion and nondiabetic rats had lower excretion after footshock training relative to baseline measures. Norepinephrine excretion was elevated in diabetics both in baseline measurement and during the 24 hr following footshock training. No differences were found in baseline or stimulated corticosterone concentration between diabetic and nondiabetic rats. Diabetic rats had higher concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) and lower 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine (DOPAC/DA) ratios in hypothalamus and higher NE in brain stem and amygdala than did nondiabetics, although both diabetic and nondiabetic rats had reduced DA and NE following retention testing. The results indicate that there are biochemical alterations in diabetes that may have important behavioral impact.
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PMID:Stress and behavior in streptozotocin diabetic rats: biochemical correlates of passive avoidance learning. 252 5

The effects of streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetes on neuroendocrine and sexual function were evaluated in adult male rats. Adult male rats were injected with STZ (50 mg/kg) or vehicle and tested for copulatory behavior 7, 14, and 21 days later. The rats were killed 1 month after STZ or vehicle treatment for measurement of plasma hormone levels, hypothalamic catecholamine turnover, LHRH content, and in vitro pituitary function. The STZ rats showed significant deficits in mount, intromission, and ejaculatory behaviors. Plasma levels of testosterone, LH, FSH, and PRL were all significantly reduced in the STZ compared to the control rats, but in vitro LH secretion was enhanced after STZ treatment. In vitro PRL secretion and the inhibitory response to dopamine did not differ between the two groups. The levels of LHRH were reduced in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), but LHRH levels in the median eminence (ME) and anterior hypothalamus (AH) were unchanged after STZ treatment. Norepinephrine turnover was reduced in the ME, MBH, and AH of the STZ rats, while dopamine turnover was unchanged in the ME, increased in the MBH, and reduced in the AH of the STZ rats compared to those in the vehicle-treated controls. These results suggest that changes in pituitary and testicular function in rats made diabetic by STZ treatment are secondary to changes in hypothalamic catecholamine metabolism. Changes in copulatory behavior could be due to both reductions in plasma testosterone levels as well as changes in central neurotransmitter metabolism.
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PMID:Streptozotocin-induced deficits in sex behavior and neuroendocrine function in male rats. 252 88

Low sodium and potassium adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity has been proposed as a mechanism behind diabetic neuropathy. In this study the platelet ATPase activity and platelet noradrenaline efflux rate were determined in 47 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients and 20 controls. Ulnar motor conduction velocities, tested in a subgroup, were lower in patients than in controls (52.7 +/- 1.3 m s-1 vs. 61.3 +/- 1.4 m s-1; P less than 0.001). Platelet ATPase activity tended to be increased in the patients compared with the controls (29.9 +/- 1.0 x 10(-3) min-1 vs. 26.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(-3) min-1; NS). In ulnar nerve function tested subjects, ATPase activity was higher in patients than in controls (31.2 +/- 1.7 x 10(-3) min-3 vs. 25.9 +/- 1.3 x 10(-3) min-1; P less than 0.01). The platelet noradrenaline efflux rate tended to be higher in patients with lower brake indices, a sign of autonomic neuropathy, than in controls (29.0 +/- 3.0 x 10(-3) min-1 vs. 21.2 +/- 0.9 x 10(-3) min-1; P less than 0.05). The platelet ATPase activity was not decreased in IDDM patients, however, a connection between diabetic autonomic neuropathy and platelet transmittor leakage was indicated.
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PMID:Platelet sodium and potassium ATPase [corrected] activity and noradrenaline efflux rate in relation to autonomic and peripheral nerve function in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. 253 27

In the present study, a superfusion method was used to investigate the alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated modulation of the electrically evoked release of radiolabeled noradrenaline in vas deferens and cerebral cortex slices of streptozotocin-diabetic and control rats 8-10 weeks after the induction of diabetes. Stimulation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors led to a significantly smaller inhibition of radiolabeled noradrenaline release in the vas deferens of diabetic rats as compared to control rats. In the cerebral cortex no such difference was detected. It is concluded that these effects could be due to a decrease in the number of presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the vas deferens of diabetic rats. The results of this study show that the superfusion technique offers a simple possibility to obtain information about the functional integrity of noradrenergic neurons in the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system in diabetes mellitus. Moreover, the results provide an indication for a different time scale in the development of neuropathy in the peripheral and central nervous system of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
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PMID:Alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated modulation of noradrenaline release is decreased in vas deferens but not in cerebral cortex of diabetic rats. 254 2


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