Effect of urotensin II on skin microvessel tone in diabetic patients without heart failure or essential hypertension

Abstract

Urotensin II (UII) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide. Increased plasma levels and kidney expression of UII and its receptor have been observed in diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the direct effect of exogenous UII on microvascular tone in DM patients compared with healthy controls. Vasoactive effect of UII (10(-12), 10(-9) and 10(-7) mol/L) on skin microvascular tone was evaluated in 12 controls and 12 DM patients (Type 1 or Type 2) without concomitant heart failure or essential hypertension using the non-invasive technique of iontophoresis and laser Doppler velocimetry. In addition, responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were ev..