LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND ACTIVITY OF ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN DIABETIC RATS

We hypothesized that oxygen free radicals (OFRs) may be involved in pa thogenesis of diabetic complications. We therefore investigated the le vels of lipid peroxidation by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive s ubstances (TEARS) and activity of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dism utase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT)] in ti ssues and blood of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The ani mals were divided into two groups: control and diabetic. After 10 week s (wks) of diabetes the animals were sacrificed and liver, heart, panc reas, kidney and blood were collected for measurement of various bioch emical parameters. Diabetes was associated with a significant increase in TEARS in pancreas, heart and blood. The activity of CAT increased in liver, heart and blood but decreased in kidney. GSH-Px activity inc reased in pancreas and kidney while SOD activity increased in liver, h eart and pancreas. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress occurs i n diabetic state and that oxidative damage to tissues may be a contrib utory factor in complications associated with diabetes.