Aortic vasoreactivity during a postnatal critical window of the pancreas in rats.

Changes in aortic vasoreactivity during the postnatal pancreatic critical window, where insulin and glucose, which modify vasoreactivity, are elevated, were studied and compared to those in control and metabolic syndrome (MS) rats. Twelve 21- and 28-day-old rats were used. To develop MS rats, male Wistar animals were given 30% sucrose in drinking water since weaning and used when 6 months old. Glucose and insulin levels were higher during suckling and decreased after weaning, and insulin and triglycerides levels increased in MS rats. Contraction elicited by norepinephrine (NE) was stronger than KCl contraction at all ages. KCl-induced contraction increased with, age being stronger in control rats; it further increased in MS rats. Norepinephrine-induced contraction increased from day 12 to day 28 but stabilized from day 21 to day 28; it was stronger in controls and increased in MS rats. Vasorelaxation to acetylcholine in NE precontracted rings did not change during the neonatal period, being similar to MS rats and lower than in controls. Insulin-induced increase in contraction elicited by KCl increased from day 12 to day 28 and increased from control to MS rats. There is a postnatal critical window in vasoreactivity that might predispose to cardiovascular diseases in adults.