Regulation of spontaneous EDRF release in diabetic rat aorta by oxygen free radicals

The interaction of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and oxygen-derived free radicals may potentially play an important role in the pathophysiology of complications associated with diabetes. In the present study, we investigated spontaneous EDRF release in diabetic rat aorta that is unmasked by the addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD produced a significantly greater relaxation in diabetic aorta compared with control aorta using both aortic ring and bioassay preparations. This relaxation was unaltered by pretreatment with catalase or indomethacin. Removal of the endothelium or pretreatment with either NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or methylene blue eliminated SOD-induced relaxation in both control and diabetic rings. Measurement of antioxidant enzymes revealed an elevation in catalase in diabetic aorta, with no difference in the SOD or glutathione peroxidase activity. The increase in catalase activity suggests increased exposure of diabetic aorta to hydrogen peroxide. Pretreatment of rings with the catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, attenuated the SOD-induced relaxation in diabetic aortic rings but had no effect in control aortic rings. In summary, our observations suggest that the diabetic rat aorta releases more spontaneous EDRF than control aorta; however, the activity of EDRF on vascular smooth muscle tone is masked by increased destruction by oxygen-derived free radicals.