Co-administration of prazosin and propranolol with glibenclamide improves anti-oxidant defense system in endothelial tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

Background Due to increasing prevalence of diabetes and associated endothelial dysfunction, this study was carried out to investigate the effects of co-administration of adrenoceptor blockers (prazosin and propranolol) and glibenclamide on plasma biomarkers of endothelial functions in diabetic rats. Methods Experiments were carried out on 35 male Wistar rats (170-200 g). They were divided into seven groups (n=5) as follows: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + glibenclamide (GLB-5mg/kg/day), diabetic+ prazosin (PRZ-0.5 mg/kg/day), diabetic + PRZ + GLB, diabetic + propranolol (PRP-10 mg/kg/day), diabetes + PRP + GLB. Experimental diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) and drugs were administered orally for 3 weeks. Blood pressure was measured and animals were sacrificed afterwards. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, and major marker of endothelial functions, nitric oxide derivatives (NOx), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured on the plasma. The aorta was harvested for histological examination. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and analysed using ANOVA at α 0.05. Results There was a significant increase in levels of NOx and SOD, and a decrease in MDA level in diabetic treated groups compared to diabetic control. Mean blood pressure increased in diabetic control and diabetic + GLB group when compared with normal control, while it was mildly reduced in diabetic group treated with PRZ and PRP, and co-administered GLB. More so, Aorta histology was altered in diabetic control groups when compared with normal control and all diabetic treated groups. Conclusions Results from this study suggest that PRZ, PRP, and GLB (singly and in combined therapy) could have a restorative effect on endothelial functions in diabetes.