Induction of heme oxygenase 1 in liver of spontaneously diabetic rats

It has been suggested that diabetes induces an increase in oxidative stress ; the increased expression of heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in liver is believed to be a sensitive marker of the stress response. The aim of this study was to examine whether diabetes is able to induce HO-1 expression in liver. The specific mRNA was amplified by RT/PCR and calibrated with amplified beta - actin mRNA. The mRNA HO-1 let els in the liver of spontaneously diabetic rats were incr eased by 1.8 fold compared with non diabetics; this supports the hypothesis of weak but significant oxidative damage due to chronic hyperglycaemia. Th is work represents the first in vivo study exploring the semi-quantitative expression of HO-1 in the liver of spontaneously diabetic rats.