[The indices of systemic and regional hemodynamics in waking rats with streptozotocin diabetes]

Abstract

Important cardiovascular dysfunctions have been described in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. To determine the influence of these changes on the hemodynamic state, the different hemodynamic parameters, obtained by microsphere technique, were studied in STZ-induced (50 mg/kg) diabetic male Wistar rats, as well as in age control. All the rats were examined in the conscious, unrestrained state 12 weeks after induction of diabetes or acidified saline (pH 4.5) injection. During 12 weeks of the diabetic state the most important findings are hypotension, increase in cardiac index, decrease in total peripheral resistance and altered regional blood flow. These results suggest that important hemodynamic alterations are present in the chronic diabetic state.