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Angiotensin II receptor blockage prevents diabetes-induced oxidative damage in rat heart

S Ozdemir1, B Tandogan, N N Ulusu

  • 1Department of Biophysics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. osemir@akdeniz.edu.tr

Folia Biologica
|May 19, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Angiotensin II (Ang II) contributes to diabetes-induced heart damage by increasing oxidative stress. Blocking the Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor with candesartan-cilexetil protects diabetic rat hearts by improving antioxidant enzyme activity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Endocrinology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling pathway is implicated in reactive oxygen species generation and diabetes-related cardiac complications.
  • Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade on key antioxidant enzymes in the heart of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
  • To evaluate the protective effects of candesartan-cilexetil against diabetes-induced oxidative stress in cardiac tissue.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of diabetes in rats using streptozotocin (STZ).
  • Administration of candesartan-cilexetil (AT1 receptor blocker) at 5 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks.
  • Measurement of antioxidant enzyme activities (G6PD, 6PGD, GR, GST, GSH-Px, CAT) in heart tissues.

Main Results:

  • Diabetes significantly increased cardiac G6PD, 6PGD, GR, GSH-Px, and CAT activities, while GST remained unaffected.
  • Treatment with candesartan-cilexetil normalized the altered activities of these antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rat hearts.
  • No adverse effects of candesartan-cilexetil were observed in control rats.

Conclusions:

  • Angiotensin II contributes to oxidative stress in the diabetic rat heart.
  • AT1 receptor blockade with candesartan-cilexetil demonstrates potential cardioprotective effects against diabetes-induced cellular damage by modulating antioxidant enzyme activity.

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