Zhi-Hao Mu1, Zhen Jiang1, Xiao-Jie Lin2, Li-Ping Wang1, Yan Xi2,3, Zhi-Jun Zhang2, Yong-Ting Wang2, Guo-Yuan Yang1,2. 1. Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. 2. Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. 3. Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Dynamically observe cerebral vascular changes in hyperglycemic rats in vivo and explore the effect of diabetes on endothelial function after ischemic stroke. BACKGROUND: Diabetes affects both large and small vessels in the brain, but the dynamic process and mechanism are unclear. METHODS: We investigated the structural and functional changes of brain vasculature in living hyperglycemic rats and their impact on stroke outcomes via a novel technique: synchrotron radiation angiography. We also examined the effect of prolonged fasudil treatment on arterial reactivity and hemorrhagic transformation. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were treated by streptozotocin to induce type 1 diabetes. These hyperglycemic rats received fasudil pretreatment and then underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. RESULTS: We found that diabetes caused arteries narrowing in the circus Willis as early as 2 weeks after streptozotocin injection (P < 0.05). These vessels were further constricted after middle cerebral artery occlusion. L-NAME could induce regional constrictions and impaired relaxation in hyperglycemic animals. Furthermore, hemorrhagic transformation was also increased in the hyperglycemic rats compared to the control (P < 0.05). In fasudil-treated rats, the internal carotid artery narrowing was ameliorated and L-NAME-induced regional constriction was abolished. Importantly, stroke prognosis was improved in fasudil-treated rats compared to the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our dynamic angiographic data demonstrated that diabetes could impair the cerebral arterial reactivity. Prolonged fasudil treatment could attenuate arterial dysfunction and improve the prognosis of ischemic stroke by affecting both the large and small vasculature.
OBJECTIVES: Dynamically observe cerebral vascular changes in hyperglycemic rats in vivo and explore the effect of diabetes on endothelial function after ischemic stroke. BACKGROUND:Diabetes affects both large and small vessels in the brain, but the dynamic process and mechanism are unclear. METHODS: We investigated the structural and functional changes of brain vasculature in living hyperglycemic rats and their impact on stroke outcomes via a novel technique: synchrotron radiation angiography. We also examined the effect of prolonged fasudil treatment on arterial reactivity and hemorrhagic transformation. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were treated by streptozotocin to induce type 1 diabetes. These hyperglycemic rats received fasudil pretreatment and then underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. RESULTS: We found that diabetes caused arteries narrowing in the circus Willis as early as 2 weeks after streptozotocin injection (P < 0.05). These vessels were further constricted after middle cerebral artery occlusion. L-NAME could induce regional constrictions and impaired relaxation in hyperglycemic animals. Furthermore, hemorrhagic transformation was also increased in the hyperglycemic rats compared to the control (P < 0.05). In fasudil-treated rats, the internal carotid artery narrowing was ameliorated and L-NAME-induced regional constriction was abolished. Importantly, stroke prognosis was improved in fasudil-treated rats compared to the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our dynamic angiographic data demonstrated that diabetes could impair the cerebral arterial reactivity. Prolonged fasudil treatment could attenuate arterial dysfunction and improve the prognosis of ischemic stroke by affecting both the large and small vasculature.