NOVEL IMPLICATIONS OF THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF SELENIUM ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC MICE

Levels of blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH), glutat hione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and blood selenium levels were determined in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The effect of oral administration of sodium selenite w as studied on the above parameters. Diabetes caused hyperglycemia (2.8 -fold increase) with a significant increase in the malondialdehyde lev els (89% in liver and 83% in blood) and GST activity (55%) and marked decreases in GSH levels (approximately 73% in blood and 79% in liver) in the 5th week after STZ treatment as compared to normal control anim als. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic mice with sodium selenite chang ed these parameters to near control values in almost all cases. These results suggest that selenium plays a role in reducing the oxidative s tress associated with diabetes.