Effect of chronic treatment with atenolol and prazosin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes-mellitus was induced in rats by single intravenous injection of (45 mg/kg) streptozotocin (STZ). STZ diabetic rats showed hypertension, decreased cardiac functions, cardiomyopathy and hypercholesterolemia observed at the end of six weeks. Chronic treatment with atenolol (10 mg/kg) for six weeks in the diabetic rats reduced the elevated blood pressure, but failed to prevent STZ induced other complications. Chronic treatment with prazosin (1 mg/kg, po) in the diabetic rats, reduced the elevated blood pressure and also partially prevented hypercholesterolemia, cardiac dysfunctions and in particular the cardiomyopathy. The results suggest that prazosin may be a better option as compared to atenolol in hypertension when it is associated with diabetes mellitus.