Abstract
Chronic diabetic state was produced in monkeys (Macaca fuscata) with i.v. streptozotocin and they were kept untreated for up to 41 months. Hypercholesterolemia (313mg/dl v.s. Normal; 151mg/dl) and hypertriglyceridemia (477mg/dl v.s. Normal; 70mg/dl) together with hyperapoproteinemia (B, C-II) were observed. The major subfraction for cholesterol increase was attributed to LDL; and for TG to mostly (VLDL+IDL) fraction. HDL-chol and apo A-I were normal. The changes seemed to be greater in the monkeys with longer duration of diabetes.
Microscopically, endotherial thickening, appearance of form cells and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the median layer of abdominal arteries were observed. Degeneration of cardiac muscle fibers was also observed. Impairment of contractility and ventricular dilatation were noted by ultrasonic cardiography.
Long-standing insulinopenia leads to hypercholesterolemia (LDL) and hypertriglyceridemia (VLDL+IDL), which in turn may have contributed to the development of early lesions of macroangiopathy in chronic diabetic monkeys.
