In individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and models of the disease, hyperglycemia is associated with microvascular complications, including reduced capillary ratio in skeletal muscle (SM). We investigated whether a blood glucose lowering drug, empagliflozin (EMPA), has any impact on the microvasculature in SM. T1D was induced in eight-week-old male rats using streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, n=21). Twenty-one rats were given daily insulin and 11 of 21 rats also consumed EMPA (30 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. Twelve healthy non-diabetic rats served as controls. Capillary content and angiogenic factors were assessed in three separate leg muscles. EMPA+insulin treated rats exhibited better glycemic control, but capillary to fibre ratio and VEGFa mRNA was not impacted by EMPA+insulin treatment in the tibialis anterior. PECAM mRNA and VEGFa protein expression was also not impacted by EMPA+insulin treatment. EMPA has no obvious impact on the vasculature of SM in type 1 diabetic rodents
