Role of nitric oxide in posthypoxic contractile dysfunction of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

We investigated the role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the contractile dysfunction of diabetic cardiomyopathy, comparing streptozotocin-treated (60 mg/kg) diabetic Wistar rats with matched non-diabetic controls. Isolated isovolumic heart function was studied during normoxia and in response to brief hypoxia-reoxygenation. Diabetic hearts had significantly lower left-ventricular pressure and slower isovolumic relaxation than controls (relaxation time constant, T 40.