EFFECTS OF CALORIC RESTRICTION AND THE ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) ON HEMODYNAMIC CONDITION OF NON-DIABETIC AND STZ-INDUCED DIABETICS RATS

Overweight is one of the most worldwide health problems particularly in industrial and developed communities. Obese subjects are at high risk for developing various disorders such as diabetes and especially cardiovascular diseases. It has been well established that life style modification plays an important role in reducing these complications, particularly weight reduction and caloric restriction (CR) as a non- pharmacological approach. In the present study the possible effects of caloric restriction on Nitric Oxide production and blood pressures in rat were investigated. Four groups of rats were selected as control(C), caloric restriction (CR), diabetic (D), and caloric restriction diabetic (CRD). Control animals fed freely with standard pellet but caloric restricted animals fed an every other day diet for 4 weeks. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured in all groups using the tail-cuff method under the light general anesthesia induced by ether. Nitric oxide (NO x) concentrations were determined in serum using a colorimetric non- enzymatic NO assay kit. In CR experimental groups (CR&CRD) SBP was significantly decreased as compared to control: (P<0.001) and diabetic (P<0.01) rats, while the serum NO x was significantly increased (P<0.01) in both groups as compared to control and diabetic rats. On the basis of obtained results, it could be concluded that caloric restriction may reduce blood pressure and increase nitric oxide in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Increase nitric oxide is the likely mechanism for decreasing blood pressure.