The Protective Role of Resveratrol on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Streptozocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol on diabetic cardiomyopathy in streptozocininduced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were injected with streptozocin to establish diabetes model. After four weeks, heart tissues were collected for histopathological examination and immunoexpression of nitric oxide synthases-2 (NOS-2) and transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1). Lipid peroxidation was evaluated. Results: In diabetic rats, cardiac muscle cell thickness (hypertrophy), TGF-?1 and NOS-2 expression were increased significantly when compared to control group. Administration of resveratrol in diabetic rats causes a significant reduction both in cardiac muscle cell thickness, TGF-?1 and NOS-2 expression in these rats. Blood glucose levels were significantly increased in diabetic rats expectedly, but there was no important difference between diabetic rats and resveratrol administrated diabetic rats in terms of blood glucose levels. Conclusion: We showed protective effects of resveratrol on dilated cardiomyopathy on diabetic rats by reducing oxidative stress. As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing, resveratrol supplementation could help preventing diabetic cardiomyopathy