3.1 PTUPB reduces blood pressure and lacks anti-diabetic actions in obese ZSF1 rats
Obese ZSF1 rats were severely diabetic with 60 to 75% higher fasting blood glucose, increased HbA1c, increased HOMA index, decreased rate of glucose clearance, and marked hyperinsulinemia compared to lean ZSF1 rats (Figure 1). Neither interventional PTUPB nor enalapril treatment attenuated hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance in obese ZSF1 rats. All markers of overt type 2 diabetes remained markedly elevated compared to lean ZSF1 rats. The obese ZSF1 rats had increased body weight (733±11g) compared to lean ZSF1 rats (470±9g), and neither PTUPB (702±7g) nor enalapril (722±10g) treatments affected body weight of obese ZSF1 rats. Systolic blood pressure was higher in obese ZSF1 rats (182±7 mmHg) compared to lean ZSF1 rats (139±5 mmHg). In obese ZSF1 rats 8-week PTUPB and enalapril treatments reduced blood pressure. Blood pressure averaged 161±9 mmHg in PTUPB and averaged 147±10 mmHg in enalapril treated obese ZSF1 rats.