Fig. 2

Characterization of T2DM and vasculopathy in rats. a Time course of random blood glucose levels following STZ. One week after STZ injection, glucose tolerance was assessed by IPGTTs, by intraperitoneal injection of 2 g glucose/kg body weight and determining blood glucose levels (b); insulin tolerance was evaluated by IPITTs, by injecting 2 g glucose/kg body weight immediately followed by insulin administration at a dose of 2 units/kg body weight (c); and serum insulin levels were evaluated by ELISA (d). 12 weeks after STZ injection, representative picture, and body weight (e); 24-h water intake and 24-h feed intake (f); Serum NO and serum ET-1 levels were evaluated by ELISA (g); Skin vessels (black arrow), kidney, and myocardium lipid accumulation in T2DM rats (h). Values are mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001