Abstract 412: The Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin Improves Diabetic Complications in the Streptozotocin Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Model by Interfering With Glucotoxicity and Rescue of Beta-Cell Function

Objectives: In diabetes, cardiovascular complications are associated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Empagliflozin (Empa), as a selective sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) in clinical development, offers a promising novel approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes by enhancing urinary glucose excretion. The aim of the present study was to test whether treatment with Empa could improve endothelial dysfunction in type I diabetic rats via reduction of glucotoxicity and associated oxidative stress. Research Design and Methods: Type I diabetes in Wistar rats was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). One week after injection Empa was administered via drinking water for 7 weeks. Results: Treatment with Empa (10 and 30 mg/kg/d), showed reduction of blood glucose and a normalization of endothelial dysfunction (aortic rings) in diabetic rats and a reduced oxidative stress in aortic vessels (dihydroethidine staining) and in blood (phorbol ester/zymos...