Thiazolidinedione treatment normalizes insulin resistance and ischemic injury in the Zucker fatty rat heart

摘要

Obesity is associated with risk factors for cardiovascu- lar disease, including insulin resistance, and can lead to cardiac hypertrophy and congestive heart failure. Here, we used the insulin-sensitizing agent rosiglitazone to investigate the cellular mechanisms linking insulin re- sistance in the obese Zucker rat heart with increased susceptibility to ischemic injury. Rats were treated for 7 or 14 days with 3 mg/kg per os rosiglitazone. Hearts were isolated and perfused before and during insulin stimulation or during 32 min low-flow ischemia at 0.3 ml .min~-1.grams wet wt~-1 and reperfusion.