Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Diabetic heart failure is characterised by predominantly diastolic dysfunction and has been associated with impaired cardiac energetics and inflammation. We recently found evidence of increased endothelial glycocalyx damage in a rat model of diabetic heart failure. This was associated with increased myocardial content of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), a “fingerprint” of peroxynitrite. Increased peroxynitrite results in DNA damage, which then activates poly-ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) to initiate DNA repair. In turn, PARP-1 activation will deplete NAD+ and cause energetic impairment.

Hypothesis: We hypothesised that inhibition of PARP-1 would ameliorate cardiac dysfunction observed in diabetic rats, and also the associated impairment of endothelial glycocalyx integrity.

Methods: Diabetic heart failure was induced in 8-week-old male Wistar rats with 12 weeks of modified diets and two doses of streptozotocin at 30mg/kg/d. After induction of diabetes, the rats were randomised to receive 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) at 40mg/kg/d or saline for 6 weeks (n=17/group). At the end of the study, cardiac function was determined via echocardiography. Plasma concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), as inflammatory stimulus that mediate glycocalyx damage, markers of glycocalyx damage [syndecan-1 [SD-1], heparan sulfate (HS) and hyaluronan (HA)], and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) as inducer of increased vascular permeability were measured, as was 3-NT.

Results: 3-AB treated rats displayed significantly improved diastolic (E/A and E/E’), but not systolic (EF, global longitudinal strain) function (Fig A-D). While 3-AB did not affect plasma MMP-9, SD-1 or HA, there was significant reduction in Ang-2 and HS (Fig E-I). ANCOVA (Fig J) revealed a direct correlation between Ang-2 and E/E’. Lastly, there was no significant difference in 3-NT between groups.

Conclusion: In a rat model of diabetic heart failure, inhibition of PARP-1 with 3-AB for 6 weeks selectively improved diastolic function. There was also reduction in plasma levels of heparan sulfate and angiopoietin-2, suggesting that 3-AB protects the microvascular glycocalyx from damage by PARP-1, presumably by limiting oxidative stress.