AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF SULFONYLUREA GLYBURIDE ON GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RAT MUSCLE-TISSUE

1. Four weeks of glyburide (glibenclamide) treatment (5 mg/kg, orally) was administered in type II diabetic rats and the effect of such trea tment was determined on muscle glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. 2. GPx activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method in which i ts activity was coupled to the oxidation of NADPH by glutathione reduc tase. 3. No statistically significant difference was found in muscle G Px activity between diabetic rats and controls. 4. There was a signifi cant difference in GPx activity between glyburide treated diabetic and nontreated diabetic groups and between glyburide-treated control and control groups. 5. The results of this study demonstrated that diabete s did not significantly alter skeletal muscle GPx activity in diabetic rats. However, glyburide may be an effective antioxidant agent in add ition to its expected insulin like effects. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.