Abstract:

 Objective    To investigate the effect of calcium dobesilate on the aorta of diabetic rats and explore its possible mechanism. Methods    The Diabetes mellitus(DM) model was established by a single injection of streptozotocin(STZ)and DM rats were randomly divided into the calcium dobsilate group and the diabetic group. Normal rats served as the normal group.  Each group contained  10 rats. In the calcium dobsilate group, rats were treated intragastrically with 0.15mg/g calcium dobsilate every day while the same dose of distilled-water was applied in the other groups. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks. Before being sacrificed, blood samples were drawn to measure serum indicators. After being sacrificed, the aorta was fixed to observe morphological changes. Plasma endothelin (ET) and Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) levels were measured respectively with radioimmunoassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of PAI-1 and matrix metalloprotein-9(MMP-9)in the aorta were determined with immunohistological chemistry. Results     Compared with the diabetic group, the plasma level of ET and PAI-1 were decreased(P<0.05) by calcium dobesilate. Expression of PAI-1 and MMP-9 in the aorta was decreased by calcium dobesilate. Rats in the DM group showed abnormal aortic ultra-structure, including incrassated intima, varicose endothelial cells, proliferation and disorder of smooth muscle cells. These phenomena were significantly alleviated in the calcium dobesilate group. Conclusion    Calcium dobesite can protect blood vessel endothelium, inhibit platelet aggregation, delay arteriosclerosis, stabilize atheromatous plaque via down-regulation of ET and PAI-1 in plasma and inhibition of PAI-1 and MMP-9 expression in the aorta.

Key words: Calcium dobesilate; Animal model; Diabetic mellitus; Aorta; Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; Matrix metalloprotein-9;  Endothelin; Wistar rats