DECREASED GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN SCIATIC-NERVE OF ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC MICE AND ITS CORRELATION WITH BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVELS

The effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on glutathione peroxidase (GSH- Px) activity in sciatic nerve of mice has been studied. We have found, 7 days after alloxan treatment, a significant decrease in this enzyma tic activity in the cytosol of sciatic nerve of diabetic mice, and mor eover, that these changes remained unaltered up to 21 days after allox an injection. No modification in the glutathione content of sciatic ne rve of diabetic mice was observed throughout the experiment when compa red with controls. The decrease in GSH-Px activity in this tissue show s a good correlation with the increase of blood glucose levels through out the experiment. It is hypothesized whether a combination of mechan isms could be involved in this decrease of GSH-Px activity and if oxyg en radicals might be the common mediators of these processes.