Modulation of Oxidative Stress Indices by Treatment with Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes of Rats

Irina Camelia Chiş, Marius-Ionuţ Ungureanu, Adriana Mureşan, and Nicoleta Decea

Department of Physiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Corresponding author: Dr. Irina Camelia Chiş
    Department of Physiology
    Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy
    Str. Emil Isac nr. 13
    RO 400023 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
    Telephone: 0040 744 555952
    Fax number: 0040 264 597257
    E-mail: irinnaus@yahoo.com

CEJOEM 2006, Vol.12. No.4.: 227–233


Key words:
Reactive species of oxygen, lipid peroxides, ceruloplasmin, CAT, SOD, alpha-lipoic acid, streptozotocin, diabetes mellitus


Abstract:
The effect of intramuscular administration of alpha-lipoic acid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants and the possible protection of pancreatic β-cells and hepatic-cells was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats, 90 days old, weighting between 150–170 g, were divided into three experimental groups. Group I served as control. To induce diabetes, Group II and III were injected with streptozotocin of 40 mg/kg body mass. The latter group was intramuscularly treated with alpha lipoic acid (ALA) with a dose of 10 mg/kg b.m. for 30 days after induction of diabetes mellitus. At the end of the experiments, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in the plasma and the supernatant of liver and pancreas homogenisates, and SOD and CAT in the homolysates of red blood cells were assayed. Alpha-lipoic acid reduced the level TBARS and improved the antioxidant levels in plasma and hepatic and pancreatic cells as compared to Group II diabetic rats. In conclusion, alpha-lipoic acid enhanced the antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species produced under hyperglycemic conditions and protected the liver and the pancreatic β-cells.


Received: 2 November 2006
Accepted: 31 January 2007

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