Sitagliptin and metformin reduced HW/FL, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and proteinuria in GK rats.

(a) Physical and plasmatic parameters were evaluated in the rats (n=10, each group). Representative photographs of rats and hearts for each group are also shown. BW, body weight; HW, heart weight, FL, femur length; Ch, cholesterol, TG, triglycerides; LDL and HDL, low- and high-density lipoproteins; NEFA, non-esterified fatty acid; S.B.P., systolic blood pressure. (b) Sitagliptin mitigated cardiac hypertrophy in GK rats. The LV posterior wall (LVPW) and inter-ventricular septum (IVS) thicknesses, LV diastolic (LVDD) and LV systolic (LVSD) diameters, LV mass index (LVMI), ejection fraction (EF) and the deceleration time were achieved in the rats myocardia (n=10, each g roup). Representative Echo-Doppler images for each group of rats are also shown (top). (c) Hematoxilin/Eosin staining of rat hearts with the corresponding semi-quantitative score of LVPW and IVS thicknesses. *p