Diabetes-induced increases in sup 131 I-albumin permeation are unaffected by essential fatty acid depletion

The authors assessed effects of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) on regional {sup 131}I-albumin permeation in diabetic and age-matched control rats. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats (50-75 g) were randomized into EFAD diet or normal diet groups. Three months later, diabetes was induced in one half of the rats in each group by injecting i.v. 35-45 mg/kg b.w. streptozotocin. One month later, {sup 131}I-albumin clearance ({mu} g plasma/g tissue/minute) was assessed as described previously (Circ Res 64;890, 1989). Within controls, EFAD decreased body weight gain 28% but did not affect control values for plasma glucose (118{plus minus}8 (SD) mg/dl) or glycosylated hemoglobin (1.33{plus minus}0.22 % of total hemoglobin). In normal diet and EFAD diabetics, plasma glucose (535{plus minus}64 and 419{plus minus}161, respectively) and glycosylated hemoglobin (4.38{plus minus}0.97 and 2.97{plus minus}1.69) were increased significantly versus controls. Diabetes increased {sup 131}I-albumin clearance in retinal (5.1x controls), choroid (3.4x), anterior uvea (2.7x), aorta (3.5x), and sciatic nerve (2.2x). No differences were evident in tissue {sup 131}I-albumin clearances between both control groups or both diabetic groups. These results suggest that essential fatty acids do not modulate diabetes-induced changes in endothelial cell barrier function.