Effects of resveratrol on diabetes-induced vascular tissue damage and inflammation in male rats

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the short-term effects of resveratrol on histopathological characteristics and inflammatory cytokines of the heart and thoracic aorta tissues in animal models of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups; (1) control/vehicle, (2) control/20 mg/kg resveratrol, (3) diabetic/vehicle, (4) diabetic/20 mg/kg resveratrol. Heart and thoracic aorta were examined histopathologically and the levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-18 and tissue necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were analyzed by ELISA. Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were determined with HPLC. Results: Diabetes group had significantly higher vascular MDA content (p < 0.05) as compared with the control and resveratrol treated groups. Resveratrol significantly reduced vascular MDA level in diabetic animals (p < 0.05). Significant elevation in IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha contents in thoracic aorta and IL-18 contents in cardiac and arterial tissues with diabetes were almost normalized with resveratrol treatment. Additionally, diabetic animals demonstrated significant endothelial damage, irregularities in smooth muscle fibers and degeneration of elastic fibers in thoracic aortas together with significant irregularities and hypertrophy in cardiac muscle fibers. Resveratrol significantly improved most of these histopathological alterations. Conclusion: Four-week-long intraperitoneal administration of resveratrol may restore the diabetes related inflammation and oxidative stress within the cardiovascular system.