Effects of dapagliflozin on peripheral sympathetic nerve activity in standard chow- and high-fat-fed rats after a glucose load

To clarify the effects of long-term administration of SGLT2 inhibitor, a hypoglycemic agent, on basal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and on SNA under development of insulin resistance, we measured peripheral SNA in response to a glucose load in standard chow- (SCF) and high-fat-fed (HFF) rats treated with or without dapagliflozin for 7 weeks. We conducted an intravenous glucose administration (IVGA), and evaluated SNA microneurographically recorded in the unilateral sciatic nerve. Dapagliflozin did not affect the steady state action potential (AP) rate just before the IVGA (baseline) in both the SCF and HFF rats. After the IVGA, in the SCF rats, the AP rate in dapagliflozin-treated group transiently decreased within 20 min after the IVGA, and was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than non-treated group for 60 min. In the HFF rats, no significant difference was seen in the AP rate between dapagliflozin-treated and non-treated groups. The rate in the dapagliflozin-treated group after the IVGA was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the baseline whereas such difference was not found in the non-treated group. In conclusion, dapagliflozin attenuate SNA in response to glucose load, and that the SNA response is different between standard chow-fed- and high-fat-fed rats.