Effect of apelin-13 on erythrocyte deformability during ischaemia-reperfusion injury of heart in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Erythrocyte deformability and plasma viscosity are of crucial importance for the perfusion of tissues and organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of apelin-13 on erythrocyte deformability during IR heart injury in diabetic rats.

METHODS: Eighteen Wistar Albino rats were included in the study after streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) treatment for four weeks of observation for diabetes existence. The animals were randomly assigned to one of five experimental groups. In the Group C, DC (sham-control group) and DCA (sham-control group-apelin-13), the coronary artery was not occluded or re-perfused. In the Group DIR, a branch of the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 minutes followed by 90 minutes of re-perfusion to produce IR. In the Group DIRA, a branch of the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 minutes followed by 90 minutes of re-perfusion to produce IR, and apelin-13 was administrated via 10 µg.kg-1 IP route 30 minutes before ligating the left coronary artery.Deformability measurements were performed in erythrocyte suspensions containing Htc 5% in a PBS buffer.

RESULTS: The deformability index was significantly increased in diabetic rats; however, it was similar in Group DC, DCA and DIRA. It was significantly increased in the Group DIR when compared to the Group C, DIRA, DCA and DC. The relative resistance was increased in IR models.

CONCLUSION: Erythrocyte deformability was decreased in rats having diabetes and IR injury. This injury might lead to further problems in microcirculation. It was shown that apeline-13 may be useful in enhancing the adverse effects of this type of injury (Fig. 1, Ref. 35).