Effect of miglitol, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, on atherogenic outcomes in balloon-injured diabetic rats

This study investigates the effects of miglitol, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, on the development of balloon-injured neointimal thickening in left common carotid artery, and the changes of glucose metabolism and inflammatory responses in Wistar fatty rats, an obese-hyperglycemic animal model, and their littermates, Wistar lean rats. Miglitol was orally administered at 40 mg/100 g of high-fat diet containing 45% kcal as fat to 12-week-old rats for 29 days, and age-matched rats without the agent were used as the respective controls. Balloon catheterization in the left common carotid artery was performed on day 15, and the artery was removed on day 29. Compared with the area ratio of the neointima/media in fatty rats without treatment, those in fatty rats with miglitol and lean rats without treatment were significantly decreased to 80%. The administration of miglitol significantly decreased the levels of plasma glucose, glycoalbumin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and elevated the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in fatty rats. These findings suggest that miglitol could be effective for the suppression of atherogenic outcomes in diabetic Wistar fatty rat, suggesting that the agent may have clinical benefits and contribute to prevent diabetic macroangiopathy.