Effect of Anti-glucagon Treatment on Cardiac Performance in Experimentally Induced Type II Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background/Aims: Patients with type II diabetes (T2D) have underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that increase their cardiovascular disease risk. Anti-glucagon medications as amylin and its analogs are emerging antihyperglycemic agents which recently have gained attention. However, studies exploring cardiovascular effects of amylin have shown mixed outcomes. We, therefore, aimed to assess the effects of amylin on cardiac performance in experimentally induced T2D in rats. Methods: This study was carried out in a total duration of 5 weeks on 40 adult female Wistar Albino rats were allocated into 3 groups (control group, diabetic group and a group of diabetic rats treated with amylin). Rats in the diabetic and amylin treated groups were rendered diabetic by receiving high fat diet for 2 weeks, then subjected to a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in a dose of 35 mg/Kg dissolved in 1 mL of 0.05 M citrate buffer. Rats in the amylin group were treated with amylin which was started at the fifth week in a dose of 20 µg/Kg once daily for 7 days. ECG as well as the in vitro responses of isolated hearts to isoproterenol infusion by Langendorff’s preparation were also assessed. Blood samples were collected for biochemical measurements of fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, glucagon, HbA1c and serum lipid profile.