Dichotomous response of whole blood viscosity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Abnormalities of blood rheology may play an important role in the underlying mechanism of the development of diabetic complications. Although streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats have been used extensively in the investigation of diabetic complications, blood rheological alterations in this model have not previously been assessed. To assess one aspect of blood rheology, we repeated whole blood viscosity (WBV) measurements at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the STZ injection in rats. Nine of fifteen diabetic rats showed increased WBV after the induction of diabetes. Although these rats had a higher haematocrit, the increase in WBV was maintained after correction to a standard haematocrit. Percentage changes of WBV were significantly greater in these diabetic rats than in control rats at low shear rates (0.1s-1 and 1.0s-1), but not at high shear rates. In contrast, WBV was lowered at all shear rates after the injection of STZ in the remaining six diabetic rats which had lower haematocrit, severe weight loss and high mortality; no rats survived for 16 weeks post-injection. Animals in this group may be implicated in the high mortality among STZ-diabetic rats. Although there was a clear distinction of rheological and clinical pictures between these two groups of STZ-diabetic rats, blood glucose and HbA1 concentrations did not differ significantly. This study demonstrates a dichotomy in blood viscosity response to STZ-induced diabetes.