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
| Back |