Impaired Mesenteric Arterial Function of Male UC Davis Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (UCD-T2DM) Rats: Possible Involvement of Small Conductance Calcium-activated Potassium Channels (SKca)

UC Davis type-2 diabetes mellitus (UCD-T2DM) model is a novel and validated model of type-2 diabetes exhibiting etiology very similar to clinical T2DM seen in humans. This model is characterized by polygenic adult-onset obesity and diabetes observed in both sexes along with development of insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and subsequent β-cell decompensation. We have previously shown that vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries (MA) of male UCD-T2DM is altered. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factors (EDHF) is an important regulator of vascular tone, especially in small vessels such as MA