Stimulation of local renin-angiotensin system and increased levels of oxidants characterize the diabetic heart. Downregulation of ANG II type 1 receptors (AT1) and enhancement in PKC activity in the heart point out the role of AT1 blockers in diabetes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a potential role of an AT1 blocker, candesartan, on abnormal Ca 2ϩ release mechanisms and its relationship with PKC in the cardiomyocytes from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Cardiomyocytes were isolated enzymatically and then incubated with either candesartan or a nonspecific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM) for 6 -8 h at 37°C. Both candesartan and BIM applied on diabetic cardiomyocytes significantly restored the altered kinetic parameters of Ca 2ϩ transients, as well as depressed Ca 2ϩ loading of sarcoplasmic reticulum, basal Ca 2ϩ level, and spatiotemporal properties of the Ca 2ϩ sparks. In addition, candesartan and BIM significantly antagonized the hyperphosphorylation of cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and restored the depleted protein levels of both RyR2 and FK506 binding protein 12.6 (FKBP12.6). Furthermore, candesartan and BIM also reduced the increased PKC levels and oxidized protein thiol level in membrane fraction of diabetic rat cardiomyocytes. Taken together, these data demonstrate that AT 1 receptor blockade protects cardiomyocytes from development of cellular alterations typically associated with Ca 2ϩ release mechanisms in diabetes mellitus. Prevention of these alterations by candesartan may present a useful pharmacological strategy for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.heart; candesartan; Type 1 diabetes; thiol oxidation CHRONIC DIABETES ALTERS the structure and function of the human heart, and individuals with diabetes mellitus usually develop a specific cardiac dysfunction known as diabetic cardiomyopathy (37). Several mechanisms involved in the development of cardiomyopathy have been postulated, including alterations in intracellular ion homeostasis and glucose metabolism and enhanced oxidative stress. Although alteration of Ca 2ϩ signaling via changes in critical processes that regulate intracellular Ca 2ϩ has become a hallmark of this type of cardiomyopathy, controversies, currently going on, relate to specific alterations in Ca 2ϩ signaling pathways contributing to the cardiac defects in diabetes (7,20). Recently, we reported that these defects result partially from altered local Ca 2ϩ signaling due to a dysfunction of cardiac PKA-mediated ryanodine receptor Ca 2ϩ release channel (RyR2) (51).Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how all of the pathologies involved in the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy might result from hyperglycemia. Increased PKC isoform expression and increased polyol pathway flux are two main hypotheses presented to describe how hyperglycemia might cause all of the diabetic complications (6). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that hyperglycemia activates the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and enhanced RAS activity in diabetes (3...