Abstract
Background/aim: Diabetes is manifested by endothelial dysfunction and an imbalance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation. The aim of our study is to examine the effect of vitK2 application on vascular and rheological parameters in a rat diabetes model.
Materials and methods: A total of 60 male Wistar Albino rats were used to examine vascular responses and hemorheological parameters. A total of 6 groups were: control (C), control+vehicle (Cv), control+vitK2 administered (C + K2), diabetes (D), diabetes+vehicle (Dv), and diabetes+vitK2 (D + K2) group. After the animals were sacrificed, blood and vascular samples were taken and the contraction and relaxation responses of the aorta and erythrocyte deformability and aggregation were examined.
Results: When KCl dose-response curves are evaluated; Increased vasoconstriction response was found in the Dv group compared to the Cv group. The increase in vasoconstriction observed in the Dv group decreased with the application of vit K2. D+vitK2 group thoracic aorta contraction responses returned to Cv group levels. In response to increasing cumulative doses of Phe, a significant increase in vasoconstriction response was observed in the Dv group compared to the Cv group. VitK2 application reduced the Phe-mediated contractile response, which was increased in the Dv group, and returned the contraction response to Cv conditions except for two intermediate Phe doses. In the Dv + K2 group, a significant decrease was observed in the aggregation index, which was tended to increase.
Conclusion: Considering the cardiovascular complications frequently observed in diabetes, it can be suggested that vitK2 therapy may yield positive outcomes in diabetes.