The influence of high glucose levels and/or hyperosmolarity on rat isolated aorta

We investigated the influence of high-glucose levels (30.5 mmol/L) and/or hyperosmolarity on pharmacological responses in aortic ring preparations taken from nondiabetic rats. Moderate changes were observed for the concentration-response curves of noradrenaline and phenylephrine, but not for methoxamine and cirazoline. Maximal active forces of the concentration-response curves of potassium chloride and calcium chloride were significantly reduced by the elevated glucose levels per se, but neither the slopes of the curves nor the -logEC50 values were affected. Concentration-response curves of serotonin and U 46619 were not affected. For angiotensin II, the -logEC50 values and maximal active forces of the concentration-response curves were significantly lower under both hyperglycemic and hyperosmolar conditions. The present study suggests that potential changes in contractile behavior in isolated vessels from diabetic animals cannot be attributed to high glucose levels and/or hyperosmolarity as such, but indeed reflect vascular changes associated with the diabetic state. An exception has to be made for the depolarization of aortic ring preparations of nondiabetic rat; the elevated glucose level leads to an impaired calcium influx via the (slow) L-type calcium channels.