Early vitamin e supplementation attenuates diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction and the rise in protein kinase C-β in mesenteric artery and ameliorates wall stiffness in femoral artery of Wistar rats

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis. The impact of early vitamin E supplementation on vascular function in diabetes remains unresolved. Therefore, we examined the effects of vitamin E on functional and structural parameters and on chemical markers that are disturbed in diabetes in mesenteric and femoral arteries. Methods. Segments of both arteries, taken from control and 8-week-old streptozotocin diabetic Wistar rats that were treated or not with vitamin E, were mounted on wire and pressure myographs, after which endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation was assessed. Passive mechanical wall properties and the localisation and levels of protein kinase C (PKC)-β2 and AGE were evaluated in these vessels..