Endothelial Dysfunction in Hindlimb Arteries of Old Sprague Dawley rats, and the Type 2 Diabetic Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley strain.
Abstract
Ageing, and type 2 diabetes are associated with cardiovascular diseases and endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by a decline in endothelium-mediated vasodilation. In this thesis, we determined the vascular function of hindlimb arteries supplying skeletal muscle and extremities using isolated arteries and wire myography. For ageing studies, we used Sprague Dawley rats and for type 2 diabetes we used the Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley strain. Vasodilation of hindlimb arteries with acetylcholine were impaired in both models. However, protease-activated receptor 2 mediated vasodilation was upregulated in arteries. Evidence of non-nitric oxide mechanisms were also found in peripheral vasculature. These data suggest heterogenous mechanisms of endothelium-mediated vasodilation in hindlimb vasculature which differ between models of endothelial dysfunction.