EFFECT OF ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTASE INHIBITORS ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION ANDPEROXYL RADICAL-TRAPPING CAPACITY IN RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES

Effect of two angiotensin convertase inhibitors, enalapril and captopr il, on blood plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and plasma pero xyl radical-trapping capacity was studied in rats with streptozotocin- induced diabetes. A progressive increase in blood erythrocyte malondia ldehyde (MDA) level was observed in diabetic rats after 6 and 12 weeks . Blood plasma MDA level increased while plasma peroxyl radical-trappi ng capacity was decreased after 12 weeks. Captopril (2 mg/kg body weig ht) augmented the diabetes-induced changes in MDA content after 6 week s and prevented them after 12 weeks increasing also the peroxyl radica l-trapping capacity. Enalapril (1 mg/kg body weight) counteracted the diabetes-induced changes in MDA content after both 6 and 12 weeks but did not affect the plasma peroxyl radical-trapping capacity. These res ults suggest a possibility of a therapeutic use of angiotensin convert ase inhibitors to attenuate the effects of oxidative stress in diabete s.