Effect of spironolactone on cardiovascular complications associated with type-2 diabetes in rats

We have studied the effect spironolactone (20 mg/kg/day) on cardiovascular complications in neonatal model of diabetes in rats, induced by administering 90 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), i.p. in 2 day old rats. Diabetes was checked after 12 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks of treatment, various biochemical and cardiac parameters were measured. STZ produced hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, increased creatinine, cardiac enzyme and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, worsened hemodynamic parameters, cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress. Chronic treatment with spironolactone significantly reduced serum glucose levels but did not alter insulin levels. It also significantly prevented the dyslipidemia and reduced elevated Lactate de-hydrogenase, creatinine kinase, CRP and creatinine levels. Chronic treatment with spironolactone prevented STZ-induced hypertension, tachycardia and elevated rate of pressure development and decay. Spironolactone also produced beneficial effect by preventing cardiac hypertrophy as evident from left ventricular collagen levels, cardiac and left ventricular hypertrophic indices and prevented oxidative stress. In conclusion, our data suggests that spironolactone prevents STZ induced metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular complications in animal model of type 2 diabetes.