1 Previous studies have shown that endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aorta of spontaneously diabetic bio bred rats (BB) is impaired. 2 We have investigated noradrenaline (NA) contractility, endothelium-dependent acetylcholine (ACh) and bradykinin (BK) relaxation, and endothelium-independent sodium nitroprusside (SNP) relaxation in mesenteric resistance arteries of recent onset BB rats and established insulin treated BB rats, compared to their age-matched non diabetic controls. 3 There was no significant difference in the maximum contractile response or sensitivity to noradrenaline in either of the diabetic groups compared to their age-matched controls. 4 Incubation with the nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) resulted in a significant increase in maximum contractile response to noradrenaline in the recent onset age-matched control group (P<0.05). Analysis of the whole dose-response curve (using ANOVA for repeated measures with paired t test) showed a significant left-ward shift following the addition of L-NOARG (P<0.001). A similar but less marked shift (P<0.01) was evident in vessels from recent onset diabetics. An overall shift in both sensitivity and maximum response was also evident in the age-matched non diabetic controls of the insulin-treated group (P<0.05). However, by contrast, there was no significant change in sensitivity in the insulin-treated diabetic rats. 5 ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly impaired in the recent onset diabetic rats compared to their age-matched controls (47 ± 11% versus 92 ± 2%, P<0.05, n = 6), and in the insulin treated diabetic rats (34±5% versus 75 + 6%, P< 0.05, n = 6). The relaxation responses to BK also were significantly impaired in the diabetic rats compared to their age-matched controls (recent onset: 20+3% versus 72±7%, P<0.05, n=6; insulin treated: 12+9% versus 68+7%, P<0.05, n=7). 6 Incubation with either the nitric oxide synthetase substrate, L-arginine, or the free radical scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase (150 jml1') failed to improve the attenuated response of acetylcholineinduced relaxation in the diabetic vessels. 7 Endothelium-dependent relaxation mediated by ACh and BK was significantly attenuated in both the diabetic and control vessels after incubation with L-NOARG. 8 Pretreatment with a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, significantly enhanced the relaxation to ACh in both the recent onset and insulin treated diabetic rats (42+10%, n=7 versus 64±7%, n=7, P<0.05, and 40±5%, n=7 versus 65+9%, n=6, P<0.05). 9 Following endothelium removal, there was a marked impairment in endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to ACh and BK in both the diabetic and control vessels. 10 Incubation with the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29548, did not significantly improve the ACh endothelium-dependent relaxation response in the diabetic vessels. 11 Endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside was significantly impaired in the first group of diabetic vessels studied; however, subse...