Effect of Hyperglycemia and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition on Heat Tolerance and Induction of Heat Shock Protein 72 κDa in Vivo

Diabetes and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition both exacerbate mesenteric ischemia/ reperfusion injury. Heat shock protein 72 (HSP-72) protects against KDa ischemia/reperfusion damage in vivo. The effect of diabetes on HSP-72 expression in vivo is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of diabetes and NOS inhibition on HSP-72 induction in vivo. Rats were assigned to four groups: control (C), streptozotocin-induced diabetic (D), acute hyperglycemia (A), and L-N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine treated (L). Rats were subjected to hyperthermia and allowed to recover for 4 hours. Intestine and liver samples from heated (H) and nonheated (NH) rats were analyzed for HSP-72 by Western blot. HSP-72 levels were increased significantly in CH compared to CNH rats. No deaths occurred in CH rats; however, death rates were significant in AH, DH, and LH rats. DH rats died earlier than LH and AH rats. HSP-72 in liver and intestine was reduced significantly in LH rats. When compared with CH rats the surviving AH and DH rats exhibited similar HSP-72 levels in the liver. Diabetes, acute hyperglycemia, and L-N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine treatment lower heat stress tolerance. NOS is required for HSP-72 expression, but not survival. Diabetics who survive heat stress moderately express HSP-72. Characterization of altered thermotolerance and HSP-72 may provide mechanisms for the deranged diabetic stress response.