Streptozotocin diabetes-induced changes in aorta, peripheral nerves and stomach of Wistar rats

In rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ), we studied the reactivity of the aorta in response to vasoconstrictor and vasorelaxant agents, changes in conduction velocity in the sciatic nerve, and glutathion (GSH) content in the gastric mucosa as well as the occurrence of spontaneous gastric lesions. STZ-induced diabetes was found to be accompanied by endothelial injury, exhibited by diminished endothelium-dependent relaxation and by increased noradrenaline- and H2O2-induced contraction. Conduction velocity in the nerves from STZ-treated animals was significantly lower compared to that in nerves from control animals. Moreover, gastric hyperaemia, occasional gastric lesions, and a significant depletion of GSH in the gastric mucosa were observed in STZ-treated rats. Our experiments confirmed the suitability of Wistar rats for the model of STZ-induced diabetes.