The effects of streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus and fish oil compound on gene expression of atrial natriuretic peptide in rat.

1.1. Adult male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ: 55 mg/kg) for inducing diabetes. Then blood and atria for RNA extraction were withdrawn from rats treated 3 and 11 weeks previously with STZ respectively. Atrial total RNA were extracted with cold phenol method. The ANP mRNA contents were determined using Dot blot hybridization technique with alpha-32-P-labelled r-prepro ANP cDNA probe.2.2. Plasma glucose was increased and plasma immunoreactive insulin was lowered in rats at 3 and 11 weeks after injection of STZ. ANP gene expression in diabetic rats was depressed. ANP mRNA contents in rats treated 3 and 11 weeks with STZ were 86.4% and 31.7% of that of control rats.3.3. Three weeks after treatment of STZ, the rats were gastrically perfused with FOC (Fish Oil Compound) (0.355 ml/kg) once a day successively until 11 weeks. This treatment induces lower blood pressure in rats. ANP gene expression in FOC group was apparently recovered which had been decreased because of the effect of diabetes mellitus.