Insulin protects against type 1 diabetes mellitus-induced aortopathy associated with the inhibition of biomarkers of vascular injury in rats

Abstract

Background We sought to investigate the protective effect of insulin against type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)-induced aortic injury (aortopathy) associated with the inhibition of biomarkers of vascular injury. Material and methods T1DM was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg), and the protection group started insulin treatment 2 days post diabetic induction and continued until being sacrificed at week 8. Results Aortopathy was developed in the diabetic rats as demonstrated by profound alterations to the aorta ultrastructure, which was substantially protected by insulin. In addition, insulin significantly inhibited diabetes-induced dyslipidaemia, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), oxidative stress, and inflammation. However, blood levels of these biomarkers in the insulin-treated group were still significant (p < .05) compared with the control group, whereas insulin treatment returned blood glucose and triglyceride to control levels. Conclusions We demonstrate effective protection by insulin against T1DM-induced aortopathy in rats, which is associated with the inhibition of vascular injury biomarkers.