| Summary: | <p><i>Background:</i> Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor; however, in diabetes, the role of tissue Hcy leading to cardiac dysfunction is unclear.</p> <p><i>Aims:</i> To determine whether tissue Hcy caused endothelial-myocyte uncoupling and ventricular dysfunction in diabetes.</p> <p><i>Methods:</i> Diabetes was created in C57BL/6J male mice by injecting 65 mg/kg alloxan. To reverse diabetic complications, ciglitazone (CZ) was administered in the drinking water. Plasma glucose, Hcy, left ventricular (LV) tissue levels of Hcy and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured by inulin-FITC. Endothelial-myocyte coupling was measured in cardiac rings. <i>In vivo</i> diastolic relaxation and LV diameters were measured by a Millar catheter in LV and by M-mode echocardiography, respectively.</p> <p><i>Results:</i> Plasma glucose, GFR and LV tissue Hcy were increased in diabetic mice and were normalized after CZ treatment; whereas, elevated plasma Hcy level remained unchanged with or without CZ treatment. NO levels in the LV were found inversely related to tissue Hcy levels. Attenuated endothelial-myocyte function in diabetic mice was ameliorated by CZ treatment. Cardiac relaxation, the ratio of LV wall thickness to LV diameter was decreased in diabetes, and normalized after CZ treatment.</p> <p><i>Conclusion: </i>CZ normalized LV tissue levels of Hcy and ameliorated endothelial-myocyte coupling; therefore, specifically suggest the association of LV tissue Hcy levels with impair endothelial-myocyte function in diabetes.</p>
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