Figure 2

Peak Ca²⁺ Transients were Blunted in Diabetes. A) Separate analysis of the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments indicated that most of the diabetes-induced changes in the Ca²⁺ transients occurred due to changes in the nuclear compartment. Ratiometric Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorophores demonstrated the decline in the resting Ca²⁺ levels with diabetes that were especially dramatic in the nuclear compartment. The figure illustrates results of cells from DR-BB rats. P < 0.05. * indicates a significant difference in the fluorescence levels between the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments in VSMC from control animals. ** indicates a significant decline in the resting Ca²⁺ concentration in cells from diabetic animals compared to the control. There was no statistical difference noted in the nucleus and cytoplasm within cells from diabetic aorta. B) The amplitude of the vasopressin-induced nuclear Ca²⁺ transients declined with diabetes in both diabetic animal models. * indicates a significant difference between the control and diabetic groups, p < 0.05. C) There was no significant change in the amplitude of the thapsigargin-induced nuclear Ca2+ transients in either diabetic animal model. * indicates p < 0.05. For Figure 2, n = 39 and 42 cells from control and diabetic STZ rats, respectively. n = 24 and 22 cells from control and diabetic DR-BB rats, respectively.