Hypermetabolism and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in mesenteric arteries of type 2 diabetes mellitus db/db mice

Besides being a metabolic disease, diabetes is considered a vascular disease as many of the complications relate to vascular pathologies. The aim of this study was to investigate how vascular tone and reactivity and vascular cell metabolism were affected in type 2 diabetes mellitus and whether beta-hydroxybutyrate could have a positive effect as alternative energy substrate. Isolated mesenteric arteries of db/db and control mice were incubated in media containing [U-C-13]glucose or [U-C-13]beta-hydroxybutyrate, and tissue extracts were analysed by mass spectrometry. Functional characterization was performed by wire myography to assess vasodilation and vasocontraction. Hypermetabolism of glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate was observed for mesenteric arteries of db/db mice; however, hypermetabolism was significant only with beta-hydroxybutyrate as energy substrate. The functional characterization showed impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilation in mesenteric arteries of the db/db mice, whereas the contractility was unaffected. This study provides evidence that the endothelial cells are impaired, whereas the vascular smooth muscle cells are more robust and seemed less affected in the db/db mouse. Furthermore, the results indicate that hypermetabolism of energy substrates may be due to adaptive changes in the mesenteric arteries.