Artigos Originais December 01, 2003 December 01, 2003

Is endothelial function altered by glucose levels used in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus? Study in the isolated rabbit kidney

DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302003000600015

OBJECTIVE: To assess the acute effects of glucose levels used in diagnosis of diabetes mellitus on vascular reactivity in the isolated rabbit kidney. METHODS: Isolated rabbit kidneys were acutely exposed (3hs) to normal (5.5mM) and high (7, 7.8 and 11.1mM) glucose concentrations. Vascular reactivity was evaluated with acetylcholine. RESULTS: Kidneys perfused with glucose 11.1mM (maximal reduction in the perfusion pressure of 24±3 vs. 41±4%; p<0.05), but not with 7 and 7.8mM (maximal reduction in the perfusion pressures of 39±4 e 34±3%, respectively, vs. 41±4%, p>0.05) showed significantly decreased endothelium-dependent relaxations compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: High glucose levels typically observed after an oral glucose challenge can acutely alter vascular reactivity. We speculated that post-OTTG glucose levels are more strongly related to endothelial dysfunction and this is the reason why it is more correlated with cardiovascular disease.