Diabetic microangiopathy is responsible for an important rate of morbidity and mortality related to the disease. Endothelial damage seems to be the triggering factor in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications. Diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases are associated to endothelial dysfunction, the most precocious known marker of atherosclerosis. Changes on microvascular reactivity are present in patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as in individuals with risk factors for this disease. Evaluation of endothelial and microvascular functions is possible using different […]

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 […]