Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Vascular Surgery, cilt.35, sa.1, ss.7-13, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
Aim: Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a progressive enlargement of the abdominal aorta associated with high mortality risk. Despite advances in surgical and endovascular treatments, no pharmacological therapy has been established to prevent aneurysm growth. Dapagliflozin, a sodium– glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, has demonstrated cardiovascular benefits beyond glycemic control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dapagliflozin in a calcium phosphate–induced rat model of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Material and Methods: Twenty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operated rats (Sham, n=6), rats with abdominal aortic aneurysm induced by calcium phosphate (AAA, n=7), and rats with aneurysm treated with dapagliflozin (Dapagliflozin group, n=7). Aneurysm formation was induced by periaortic application of calcium phosphate. The Dapagliflozin group received daily oral dapagliflozin at a dose of 1 mg/kg for 28 days. Morphometric parameters including lumen area, lumen plus intima area, and lumen plus intima plus media area were evaluated using hematoxylin–eosin staining. Elastin degradation was assessed with Van Gieson staining, vascular calcification with Alizarin Red staining, and apoptosis with immunohistochemical detection of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney U test, with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results: Morphometric parameters were significantly increased in the AAA group compared with the Sham group (all p<0.001). These parameters were reduced in the Dapagliflozin group compared with the AAA group (all p<0.001). Elastin degradation and calcium deposition were higher in the AAA group compared with Sham (p=0.001 and p=0.002) and decreased with dapagliflozin treatment (p=0.001 and p=0.012). Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression was elevated in the AAA group (p=0.002 and p=0.003) and decreased in the Dapagliflozin group, although the reduction in Caspase-9 did not reach statistical significance (p=0.068). Conclusion: Dapagliflozin reduced aortic dilatation, elastin degradation, vascular calcification, and Caspase-3–mediated apoptosis in a calcium phosphate–induced rat model of abdominal aortic aneurysm. These findings suggest that dapagliflozin exerts protective effects on vascular integrity beyond glucose regulation and may represent a potential medical therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysm.