EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E ADMINISTRATION ON METABOLIC DEFECTS IN MYOCARDIUMOF RATS WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES

The effect of vitamin E administration (dose 1,500 mg/kg of diet) and of insulin-dependent diabetes (streptozotocin dose 45 mg/kg body weigh t, duration 8 weeks) on antioxidant status of myocardium and on some l ipid parameters were studied in male Wistar rats fed semisynthetic die t containing 0.1% cholesterol. Diabetes caused reduction of vitamin E levels in serum and in myocardium. Administration of vitamin E had hyp ocholesterolaemic effect only in control animals and accumulation of l ipids in myocardium was affected neither in control nor in diabetic ra ts. Diabetes increased lipid peroxidation (monitored by the level of m alondialdehyde - MDA) and the activity of catalase (CAT) in rat myocar dium. Vitamin E supplementation caused reduction of MDA levels. This i ntervention lowered tile activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes a nd caused a significant elevation in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CA T activities both in control and diabetic animals. Tile alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities indicate that tile protective effect of vitamin E is manifested also through the modulation of the activities of antioxidant enzymes.