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Pycnogenol ® improves left ventricular function in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats
Author(s) -
Klimas Jan,
Kmecova Jana,
Jankyova Stanislava,
Yaghi Diana,
Priesolova Elena,
Kyselova Zuzana,
Musil Peter,
Ochodnicky Peter,
Krenek Peter,
Kyselovic Jan,
Matyas Stefan
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.3015
Subject(s) - diabetic cardiomyopathy , tbars , streptozotocin , medicine , endocrinology , oxidative stress , reactive oxygen species , diabetes mellitus , cardiac function curve , nadph oxidase , cardiomyopathy , basal (medicine) , enos , chemistry , biochemistry , lipid peroxidation , nitric oxide , nitric oxide synthase , heart failure
Abstract We studied whether Pycnogenol ® (PYC) may attenuate the development of experimental streptozotocin‐induced diabetic cardiomyopathy in rat. In addition, we aimed to study whether PYC affects cardiac oxidative stress and the protein expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐producing molecules (gp91 phox ‐containing NADPH oxidase and NO‐signalling proteins). Experimental diabetes mellitus was manifested by hyperglycaemia and impaired cardiac function estimated using left ventricular catheterisation in vivo . PYC lowered fasting plasma glucose and normalized basal cardiac function. Excessive oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ) hearts, evidenced by 40% increase ( P < 0.05) of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration, was associated with increased expression of gp91 phox (by 75%, P < 0.05), iNOS (by 40%, P < 0.05) and alpha‐tubulin (by 49%, P < 0.05), but unchanged expression of eNOS and its alosteric regulators, as compared to CON. PYC failed to affect these expression abnormalities. Our study shows that PYC corrects diabetic cardiac dysfunction, probably by its metabolic and direct radical scavenging activity without affecting the molecular maladaptations of ROS‐producing enzymes and cytoskeletal components. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.