Insulin renders diabetic rats resistant to acute ischemic stroke by arresting nitric oxide reaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite

Li Man Hung, Jiung Pang Huang, Jiuan Miaw Liao, Meng Hsuan Yang, Dai Er Li, Yuan Ji Day, Shiang Suo Huang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The functions of free radicals on the effects of insulin that result in protection against cerebral ischemic insult in diabetes remain undefined. This present study aims to explain the contradiction among nitric oxide (NO)/superoxide/peroxynitrite of insulin in amelioration of focal cerebral ischemia -reperfusion (FC I/R) injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats and to delineate the underlying mechanisms. Long-Evans male rats were divided into three groups (age-matched controls, diabetic, and diabetic treated with insulin) with or without being subjected to FC I/R injury. Results: Hyperglycemia exacerbated microvascular functions, increased cerebral NO production, and aggravated FC I/R-induced cerebral infarction and neurological deficits. Parallel with hypoglycemic effects, insulin improved microvascular functions and attenuated FC I/R injury in STZ-diabetic rats. Diabetes decreased the efficacy of NO and superoxide production, but NO and superoxide easily formed peroxynitrite in diabetic rats after FC I/R injury. Insulin treatment significantly rescued the phenomenon. Conclusions: These results suggest that insulin renders diabetic rats resistant to acute ischemic stroke by arresting NO reaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite.

Original languageEnglish
Article number92
JournalJournal of Biomedical Science
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 09 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Hung et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Keywords

  • Diabetes
  • Insulin
  • Ischemic stroke
  • Nitric oxide
  • Peroxynitrite
  • Superoxide

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