Peroxidative changes in experimental diabetes mellitus

Changes in the levels of lipid peroxides and antioxidant enzymes were studied in male albino rats with experimental diabetes mellitus. Diabetes was induced by single subcutaneous injection of alloxan (19 mg/100 g body weight). The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) showed an increase both in the liver (P less than 0.01) and kidney (0 less than 0.05), while in the heart, there was a decrease (P less than 0.01), as compared to control values. A similar pattern of change was observed in the level of hydroperoxides in the liver and heart. The conjugated dienes showed an elevation during diabetes in all tissues (P less than 0.01). Glutathione levels in heart (P less than 0.01) and kidney were found to be decreased (P less than 0.05) while the liver showed an elevation during long-term diabetes (P less than 0.01). Serum ceruloplasmin showed an increase (P less than 0.05) in diabetes. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased in all tissues (P less than 0.01) while the activity of glutathione s-transferase increased in heart, but no change in other tissues. The studies thus show that lipid peroxidation is activated in liver and kidney while heart tissues show some resistance towards lipid peroxidation.