Modulation of Cardiac and Aortic Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Expression by Oxidative Stress in Chronically Glucose-Fed Rats

The combined therapy with the antioxidant α-lipoic acid restored PPAR-γ levels in cardiovascular tissues and attenuated or prevented the development of insulin resistance and hypertension in chronically glucose-fed rats. Moreover, the finding that pioglitazone was also efficient in preventing the increase in oxidative stress in SMCs treated with high insulin combined with high glucose concentrations supports the hypothesis that the activation of PPAR-γ activity can counteract the oxidative stress that seems to be implicated in the development of hypertension and insulin resistance.