Repetitive postprandial hyperglycemia increases cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury: prevention by the α-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose Stefan Frantz * , 1 , Laura Calvillo * , 1 , Jochen Tillmanns * , Inka Elbing * , Charlotte Dienesch * , Hilmar Bischoff † , Georg Ertl * and Johann Bauersachs * ,2 * Medizinische Klinik der Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; and † Bayer AG, BHC-PH-R-EU CV III, Wuppertal, Germany 2 Correspondence: Medizinische Universitätsklinik Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Würzburg 97080, Germany. E-mail: bauersachs_j@medizin.uni-wuerzburg.de <h3>SPECIFIC AIMS</h3> Protective effects of the α-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose have been reported for various diabetic complications. In the STOP-NIDDM study even patients without overt diabetes, but with impaired glucose tolerance had a reduction in cardiovascular events when treated with acarbose. Therefore, we investigated the effect of repetitive postprandial hyperglycemia on the cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo. <h3>PRINCIPAL FINDINGS</h3> <h3>1. Acarbose reduces postprandial plasma glucose levels</h3> To demonstrate that acarbose reduces postprandial hyperglycemia, blood samples were obtained (in a separate set of animals) before, 15, and 30 min after a single application of either placebo, sucrose (4 g/kg BW), or sucrose + acarbose (10 mg/kg BW) by gavage. As expected, 15 and 30 min after sucrose application, plasma glucose increased significantly
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