ABSTRACT
Hyperglycemia causes protein glycosylation, oxidation and alterations in enzyme activities, which are the underlying causes of diabetic complications. This study was undertaken to test the role of vitamin E treatment on Ca2+-ATPase activity, protein glycosylation and lipid peroxidation in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male rats weighing about 250-300 g were rendered diabetic by a single STZ injection of 50 mg/kg via the tail vein. Both the diabetic and non-diabetic rats were fed a vitamin E supplemented diet (500 IU/kg/day). Ca2+-ATPase activity was significantly reduced at week 10 of diabetes compared to the control group (p < 0.05), with 0.225+/-0.021 U/I (mean +/- S.E.M.) in the control group and 0.072 +/- 0.008 U/l (mean +/- S.E.M.) in the diabetic group. Vitamin E treatment prevented the enzyme activity from decreasing. The activities observed were 0.226 +/- 0.020 U/l and 0.172 +/- 0.011 U/I (mean +/- S.E.M.) in the vitamin E-treated control and diabetic group, respectively. STZ-induced diabetes resulted in an increased protein glycosylation and lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E treatment led to a significant inhibition in blood glucose, protein glycosylation and lipid peroxidation, which in turn prevented abnormal activity of the enzyme in the brain. This study indicates that vitamin E supplementation may reduce complications of diabetes in the brain.
Subject(s)
Brain/drug effects , Brain/enzymology , Calcium-Transporting ATPases/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/diet therapy , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/enzymology , Dietary Supplements , Vitamin E/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Animals , Blood Glucose/analysis , Body Weight/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/chemically induced , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/diagnosis , Enzyme Activation , Male , Microsomes/drug effects , Microsomes/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Streptozocin , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Microsomal Ca2+-ATPase activity was studied in control and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat livers. Male rats were rendered diabetic by injection of STZ (45 mg/kg body weight) via the tail vein. Diabetic rats at 1, 4, 8, 10 or 15 wk and control rats were sacrificed. Liver tissues were obtained for the isolation of Ca2+-ATPase. Ca2+-ATPase activity was determined spectrophotometrically and lipid peroxidation [measured as tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] in liver tissues was determined spectrofluorometrically. Total calcium was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood glucose levels of the diabetic animals were >500 mg/dl at 4, 8, 10 and 15 wk of diabetes. Ca2+-ATPase activity was significantly decreased at all weeks of diabetes compared to control group (p<0.001). Ca2+-ATPase activity of control rats was 0.193 +/- 0.015 U/I whereas activity was 0.130 +/- 0.015 U/I at 15 wk of diabetes. The difference in calcium levels of diabetic rat livers was not significantly different compared to control group. On the other hand TBARS were elevated by 67% at 15 wk of diabetes. The decrease in enzyme activity may have been caused by elevated TBARS levels observed in liver tissue sindicative of increased lipid peroxidation.