Effects of angiotensin II on morphology and function of islets β-cells in rats

AIM: To study the effects of angiotensin II (AngⅡ) on the function and morphology of islets β-cells. METHODS: The SD rats accepted AngⅡ by hypodermic injection with the osmotic minipump for 2 weeks. Hereafter, they were fed with a normal (8 g/L NaCl) or high-salt (40 g/L NaCl) diet respec- tively. The following indexes, including blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin and the morphology of islets β-cells were observed. RESULTS: The blood pressure of rats was signifi- cantly elevated 2 weeks after accepting AngⅡ via chronic hypodermic injection; at the end of 4 weeks, compared with control group, the blood pressure was increased unceasingly and markedly in the rat with AngⅡ infusions; meanwhile, the areas of islets β-cells in the rats of high-salt diet became larger than those of control group (P0.05); at the end of the 12 weeks, the blood pressure of rats with AngⅡ infusions was higher than that of control group, in addition, except the fasting blood glucose, the fasting insulin was significantly decreased and the areas of islets β-cells significantly increased (P0.05), and high-salt loading exacerbated the effects of AngⅡ infusion significantly. CONCLUSION: Chronic AngⅡinfusion increases blood pressure of rats, and effects the morphology of islets β-cells, so its secretory function might be damaged.