Mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), which are activated by mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, actively participate in mechanisms that affect the structure and function of blood vessels. Although experimental and clinical evidence shows that vascular damage in diabetes is associated with structural alterations in large and small arteries, the role of MR in this process needs further studies. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that MR, through redox-sensitive mechanisms, plays a role in diabetes-associated vascular remodelling. Male, 12–14-weeks-old db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes and their non-diabetic counterpart controls (db/+) were treated with spironolactone (MR antagonist, 50 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 6 weeks. Spironolactone treatment did not affect blood pressure, fasting glucose levels or weight gain, but increased serum potassium and total cholesterol in both, diabetic and control mice. In addition, spironolactone significantly reduced serum insulin levels, but not aldosterone levels in diabetic mice. Insulin sensitivity, evaluated by the HOMA (homoeostatic model assessment)-index, was improved in spironolactone-treated diabetic mice. Mesenteric resistance arteries from vehicle-treated db/db mice exhibited inward hypertrophic remodelling, increased number of smooth muscle cells and increased vascular stiffness. These structural changes, determined by morphometric analysis and with a myography for pressurized arteries, were prevented by spironolactone treatment. Arteries from vehicle-treated db/db mice also exhibited augmented collagen content, determined by Picrosirius Red staining and Western blotting, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, determined by dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence, as well as increased expression of NAD(P)H oxidases 1 and 4 and increased activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Spironolactone treatment prevented all these changes, indicating that MR importantly contributes to diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction by inducing oxidative stress and by increasing the activity of redox-sensitive proteins.
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July 03 2015
Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade prevents vascular remodelling in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Marcondes Alves B. Silva;
Marcondes Alves B. Silva
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Stefany Bruno A. Cau;
Stefany Bruno A. Cau
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Rheure Alves M. Lopes;
Rheure Alves M. Lopes
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Carla P. Manzato;
Carla P. Manzato
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Karla B. Neves;
Karla B. Neves
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Thiago Bruder-Nascimento;
Thiago Bruder-Nascimento
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Fabiola Leslie Antunes C. Mestriner;
Fabiola Leslie Antunes C. Mestriner
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
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Augusto C. Montezano;
Augusto C. Montezano
†Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128TA, U.K.
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Aurelie Nguyen Dinh Cat;
Aurelie Nguyen Dinh Cat
†Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128TA, U.K.
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Rhian M. Touyz;
Rhian M. Touyz
†Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128TA, U.K.
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Rita C. Tostes
*Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14.049-900, Brazil
Correspondence: Rita C. Tostes (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
November 19 2014
Revision Received:
April 07 2015
Accepted:
May 13 2015
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 13 2015
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2015 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited
2015
Clin Sci (Lond) (2015) 129 (7): 533–545.
Article history
Received:
November 19 2014
Revision Received:
April 07 2015
Accepted:
May 13 2015
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 13 2015
Citation
Marcondes Alves B. Silva, Stefany Bruno A. Cau, Rheure Alves M. Lopes, Carla P. Manzato, Karla B. Neves, Thiago Bruder-Nascimento, Fabiola Leslie Antunes C. Mestriner, Augusto C. Montezano, Aurelie Nguyen Dinh Cat, Rhian M. Touyz, Rita C. Tostes; Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade prevents vascular remodelling in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 October 2015; 129 (7): 533–545. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20140758
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