Antipermeability effects of Cyclo 3 Fort in hamsters with moderate diabetes

Ruscus aculeatus extract (the active principle of Cyclo 3 Fort) is used to increase venous tone in patients with venous disease. In these experiments, the effects of oral Cyclo 3 Fort on capillary permeability were studied in hamsters with moderate diabetes induced by two intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg). Hamsters were treated with a placebo or Cyclo 3 Fort, 2, 10 or 50 mg/kg/day, for 4 weeks starting 3 days after induction of diabetes. Intravital microscopy of cheek pouch preparations was performed using fluorescein-labelled dextran (FITC-dextran) as a marker for plasma exudation (leak formation). Plasma levels of glucose were measured prior to experiments. Following preparation for intravital microscopy, each cheek pouch was subjected to two applications of histamine, 5 x 10(-6) M for 5 min at 30-minute intervals. Plasma exudation (number of leaks/cm2) was significantly reduced in animals receiving Cyclo 3 Fort at doses of 10 mg/kg or above. The mean number of leaks was 258 +/- 17 in the placebo group, compared with 253 +/- 12, 125 +/- 7 (p < 0.01) and 99 +/- 7 (p < 0.01) in animals receiving Cyclo 3 Fort, 2, 10 or 50 mg/kg, respectively. Blood glucose levels did not differ between groups. Thus, oral Cyclo 3 Fort inhibited histamine-induced plasma exudation in hamsters with mild diabetes without affecting the glycaemia.