Alloxan diabetes alters the rabbit transarterial wall oxygen gradient

Purpose: Atherosclerotic vascular occlusive disease is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus and accounts for 75% of deaths in diabetic patients. Determining the initiator and continuing stimulus for the cellular events in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic patients could lead to the prevention of this common and deadly complication. Diabetes-induced arterial wall hypoxia is proposed as an initiator and continuing stimulus for atherosclerotic vascular occlusive disease. Methods: Transarterial wall oxygen gradient measurements were performed on the infrarenal aorta with an oxygen microelectrode 14 to 16 weeks after the induction of alloxan diabetes in rabbits. Results: Both insulin-treated and untreated alloxan diabetic rabbits revealed significantly decreased oxygen tensions throughout the arterial wall compared with control rabbits. There was no significant difference in the transarterial wall oxygen gradient between the two groups of diabetic rabbits. This effect was noted despite no difference in the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood or visual evidence of atherosclerotic lesion formation in the three groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that diabetes induces arterial wall hypoxia independent of insulin therapy and before the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Diabetes-induced arterial wall hypoxia may contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.