Vasodilation of rat retinal microvessels induced by monobutyrin. Dysregulation in diabetes. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • 1-Butyryl-glycerol (monobutyrin) is a simple lipid product of adipocytes with angiogenic activity. Recent studies have shown that the biosynthesis of this compound is tightly linked to lipolysis, a process associated with changes in blood flow. We now present data indicating that monobutyrin is an effective vasodilator of rodent blood vessels using a fluorescent retinal angiogram assay. The vasodilatory activity of monobutyrin is potent (ED50 = 3.3 x 10(-7) M), dose dependent, and stereospecific. Because diabetes represents a catabolic, lipolytic state with numerous vascular complications, we examined the action and regulation of monobutyrin in insulin-deficient diabetic rats. Serum levels of monobutyrin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were greatly elevated compared to normal animals. At the same time, the retinal vessels of the diabetic animals develop a resistance to the vasodilatory activity of monobutyrin. These results demonstrate a role for monobutyrin in the control of vascular tone and suggest a possible involvement in the pathology of diabetes.

publication date

  • December 1, 1993

Research

keywords

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Glycerides
  • Microcirculation
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
  • Retinal Vessels
  • Vasodilation

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC288489

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0027141119

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1172/JCI116908

PubMed ID

  • 8254042

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 92

issue

  • 6