Abstract
Diabetes causes changes in the myocardium, which are often called diabetic cardiomyopathy. This condition has been extensively investigated in animal models with high glucose levels. Nevertheless, it has not been investigated whether moderate hyperglycemia, in the absence of other features of metabolic syndrome, may also cause similar changes in the heart. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the myocardium in an animal model of mild type 1 diabetes. Moderate hyperglycemia was induced in 8- to 10-week-old male C57BL6J mice by 5 intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (40mg/kg). After 16 weeks, they were sacrificed, and left ventricle (LV) dimensions and extent of cardiac fibrosis were assessed by morphometry. The abundance of CCN proteins in LVsamples was assessed using western blotting, while activity of metalloproteinase 2 was established in zymography. Real time PCR was used to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and atrial natriuretic peptide. Mice with moderate hyperglycemia presented comparable cardiac dimensions with fibrosis and hypertrophy parameters as the non-diabetic controls. However, the abundance of profibrotic CCN2 protein was significantly increased in hyperglycemic animals (1.67±0.28 vs. 1±0.47, p<0.05). Interestingly, this change was independent from the TGFβ1 expression, as its RNAabundance was similar in both groups. Moderate hyperglycemia also caused an increase in the activity of the metalloproteinase 2 (1.21±0.17 vs. 1±0.07, p<0.05).Despite diabetes, no profound changes in cardiac morphology were found. In our animal model, moderate hyperglycemia caused activation of a profibrotic gene expression program, which was counterbalanced by the increase of metalloproteinase activity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.