Increased endogenous serotonin level in diabetic conditions may lead to cardiac valvulopathy via reactive oxygen species regulation

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered as a risk of cardiovascular diseases due to the expression of certain pathological factors, including hormones, such as serotonin. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the bridging role of serotonin between DM and cardiac valvulopathy via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Eighty diabetic patients and 50 healthy individuals along with experimental models were studied. DM was induced in the rat model via intraperitoneal alloxan injection and subsequently treated with serotonin. ROS, superoxide dismutase and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) expressions analyses as well as histopathologies were also performed. An increase in ROS concentration and down-regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities in diabetic patients as well as serotonin-treated diabetic experimental models were observed. The heart valves of the serotonin-treated diabetic rats were impaired along with BNP expression when compared to the normal subjects. The current study suggested that endogenous enhanced serotonin level may contribute as a bridge between diabetes and cardiovascular diseases via acceleration of free radical generation in diabetic conditions.