An accumulating body of evidence suggests that males and females differ in vascular function in arteries under pathophysiological states. In this study, we tested whether there was a sex difference associated with serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-mediated contraction in the carotid arteries of long-term streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats [viz. 23 or 24 weeks after STZ (65 mg/kg, intravenously (i.v.)) injection starting at 8 weeks old of rats]. In the control group, the 5-HT-and high-K -induced contractions were greater in females than in males. In both sexes, treatment with STZ led to a decrease of 5-HT-induced contraction in carotid arteries compared to controls. In STZ-induced diabetic rats, the carotid arterial 5-HTinduced contraction was greater in female rats than in diabetic male rats. The high-K -induced contraction was greater in diabetic female rats than in either age-matched female controls or diabetic male rats. Expression of the 5-HT 2A receptor, which is the main receptor for 5-HT-induced contraction in rat carotid arteries, was similar among the four groups. These results suggest that decreased 5-HT-induced carotid arterial contraction is seen in both sexes under long-term STZ-induced diabetic conditions. Further, this reduction seems to be weaker in females than in males. This alteration of 5-HT-induced contraction may be partly associated with increased voltage-dependent Ca 2 channel activity.Key words carotid artery; contraction; serotonin; sex difference; streptozotocin Although women generally develop cardiovascular diseases several years later than men, this benefit may be diminished in diabetic individuals. The results of numerous epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between sex and the development of cardiovascular disease in diabetics have been inconsistent.1,2) Alterations in the responsiveness of blood vessels to various hormones and/or neurotransmitters in patients of both sexes with diabetes mellitus are well established. [3][4][5][6] However, there is confounding evidence of vascular function between diabetics of both male and females.The neurotransmitter serotonin [5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT)] is an important factor that is involved in the regulation of several vascular functions, including blood flow, blood pressure, and vascular tone, in pathophysiological states.
7-9)Several reports by our research team [10][11][12] and others 3,[13][14][15] have found that alterations in vasocontraction induced by 5-HT were observed in patients with cardiovascular diseases as well as in those with diabetes. An accumulating body of evidence suggests that 5-HT plays a role in the development of diabetic complications. For example, sarpogrelate, an antagonist of the 5-HT 2A receptor, has beneficial effects against diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, and diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction, including arterial stiffness and arteriosclerosis, in diabetic patients and animal models. [16][17][18][19] This relevant evidence suggests that the manipulation of 5-HT function c...