Abstract
Insulin as a vascular hormone, apart from its effect on intermediary metabolism, has been considered to play an important role in cardiovascular regulation and pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases such as essential hypertension, congestive cardiac failure and atherosclerosis. Insulin induces pressor effects by mechanisms of increased sympathetic activity, renal sodium retention and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. On the other hand, accumulating evidence indicates that insulin decreases vascular resistance and increases organ blood flow especially in skeletal muscle tissue, indicating that insulin is a vasodilator. Several mechanisms underlying insulin-induced vasodilation have been proposed. Insulin enhances calcium efflux from vascular smooth muscle cells by activating the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase and causes hyperpolarization by stimulating Na+, K+-ATPase and sodium/potassium pump. Insulin also stimulates nitric oxide (NO) synthase and increases release of NO from vascular endothelium to cause vasodilation. An increase in cyclic AMP levels is induced by insulin, via activation of insulin receptors, β-adrenoceptors and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors. However, main cause of mechanisms mediating the vasodilation remain obscure. Hypertension is associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Insulin resistance may contribute to hypertension by sympathetic overactivity, endothelium dysfunction and decreased vasodilator action of insulin. Therefore, insulin must be considered a vasoactive peptide and more investigations are needed to better understand the full significance of the hemodynamic effect of insulin.
