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Effect of Shock Wave on Vascular Lesions in Diabetic Rats
Juan Long1, Chunjing He1, Hua Ding2
1Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital.
Background:
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in today's society. Diabetes can cause multiple vascular lesions in the body, renal insufficiency, blindness, and so on. However, the evidence concerning the role of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in diabetic vascular disease is insufficient.
Objectives:
Observation of the effect of shock wave on vascular lesions in diabetic rats.
Study Design:
This study used an experimental design.
Setting:
The research took place in the laboratory research center at The Third Military Medical University.
Methods:
Eighteen healthy adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group (group A), diabetic group (group B), and diabetes + shock wave treatment group (group C). Groups B and C were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 60 mg/kg to demonstrate a diabetic rat model. Shock wave treatment was performed on the left lower extremity femoral artery in group C for 1 week (T1), 2 weeks (T2), 3 weeks (T3), and 4 weeks (T4) while the other 2 groups were reared normally. At the end of T4 shock wave treatment, the femoral arteries of each group were observed under an electron microscope. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and angiotensin type 1 (AT1) were measured by western blot, and the changes of VEGF expression were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
The VEGF and eNOS in group C were higher than those in group B (P < 0.05). The AT1 of the rats in the B and C groups was significantly higher than that in the A group (P < 0.05), but the C group was significantly lower than the B group (P < 0.05). After shock wave therapy, the surface of vascular endothelium in group C was flatter and smoother than that in group B, and the endothelial basement membrane and foot process were relatively tight.
Limitations:
Potential mechanisms that underlie the relationship between vascular dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy pain were not examined in this study.
Conclusions:
Shock wave may promote the formation of new blood vessels and improve vasomotor function by upregulating VEGF, eNOS, and downregulation of AT1 in diabetic rats and improve the damage of blood glucose to blood vessels to some extent.
Key Words:
Shock wave, diabetic rats, vascular dysfunction, neovascularization.
Insights
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy improved vascular function in diabetic rats by increasing vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This therapy also reduced angiotensin type 1 (AT1) levels, mitigating diabetes-induced vascular damage.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology and diabetes research.
- Experimental therapeutics and regenerative medicine.
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent condition associated with significant vascular complications.
- Existing evidence on extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for diabetic vascular disease remains limited.
- Diabetic vascular disease can lead to severe health issues, including renal insufficiency and blindness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effects of shock wave therapy on vascular lesions in a diabetic rat model.
- To evaluate the impact of ESWT on key molecular markers of vascular health in diabetes.
Main Methods:
- An experimental study involving Sprague Dawley rats divided into control, diabetic, and diabetic+ESWT groups.
- Diabetic rat models were induced using streptozotocin injection.
- Femoral artery treatment with ESWT for four weeks, followed by electron microscopy and molecular analysis (VEGF, eNOS, AT1) via Western blot and real-time PCR.
Main Results:
- ESWT significantly increased vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels in diabetic rats compared to untreated diabetic rats.
- Angiotensin type 1 (AT1) levels were elevated in diabetic rats, but significantly reduced in the ESWT group.
- Electron microscopy revealed smoother vascular endothelium and tighter basement membranes in rats treated with ESWT.
Conclusions:
- Shock wave therapy demonstrates potential in promoting neovascularization and improving vasomotor function in diabetic rats.
- ESWT may mitigate vascular damage caused by diabetes through the upregulation of VEGF and eNOS, and downregulation of AT1.
- These findings suggest ESWT as a promising therapeutic approach for diabetic vascular complications.
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