Paradoxically enhanced heart tolerance to ischaemia in type 1 diabetes and role of increased osmolarity.

There is considerable controversy regarding the tolerance of diabetic hearts to ischaemia and the underlying mechanisms responsible for the increased heart tolerance to ischamia remain uncertain. In the present study, we observed, in vitro, type 1 diabetic heart responses to ischaemia and reperfusion at different degrees of hyperglycaemia. In addition, the possible role of increased osmolarity in cardioprotection due to hyperglycaemia was evaluated.