Changes in plasma prekallikrein activity, blood pressure, and left ventricular thickness in hypertensive and normotensive diabetic rats

The present study examined plasma prekallikrein (PK) activity, left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) and mean arterial blood pressure (BP) in diabetic and nondiabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The mean arterial BP was significantly raised (p < 0.01) in diabetic WKY rats and diabetic SHR when compared with their respective controls. The LVWT was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in diabetic WKY rats when compared with that in the control WKY rats. There was also an increase (p < 0.01) in the LVWT in the SHR and diabetic SHR when compared with that in the control WKY rats and diabetic WKY rats, respectively. The plasma PK activities were higher (p < 0.01) in diabetic WKY rats, SHR, and diabetic SHR against the mean value of control WKY rats. In this animal study, these findings suggest for the first time that higher plasma PK activity may serve as an indicator for predicting high BP and left ventricular hypertrophy in diabetic and hypertensive conditions. The possible significance of these observations is discussed.