Effect of streptozotocin on glutathione and lipid peroxide levels in various tissues of rats

In this study, the effect of streptozotocin (STZ) on lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) content was investigated in the liver, pancreas and kidn ey of rats. Lipid peroxide levels were significantly increased in homogenat es and mitochondrial fractions of the liver, kidney acid pancreas after STZ administration. GSH levels in hepatic acid pancreatic tissues were decreas ed but unchanged in the kidney of diabetic rats. GSH content in hepatic mit ochondrial fraction was also decreased compared to control group. On the ot her hand, the destruction of pancreatic beta-cells was also observed histop athologically. Our results indicate that oxidative stress may play an impor tant role in STZ induced diabetes and mitochondrial fraction may be the tar get in this toxicity.