Neuroprotective Dipeptide Noopept Prevents DNA Damage in Mice with Modeled Prediabetes

In experiments on BALB/c mice, prediabetes was modeled by administration of streptozotocin in a dose of 130 mg/kg. DNA damage was assessed by the method of DNA comets. Noopept (0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was administered for 14 days before and for 6, 13, or 14 days after streptozotocin administration. Despite moderate hyperglycemia and increased malondialdehyde level, the intensity of DNA damage in cells of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys significantly surpassed the control values. Noopept normalized these parameters due to its pronounced antigenotoxic effect. For both the damaging effect of streptozotocin and the normalizing effect of Noopept, DNA changes manifested mainly in terms of atypical DNA comets. Our findings confirm the role of DNA damage in the pathogenesis of diabetes. They indicate the possibility of pharmacological protection of pancreatic β cells with the neuroprotective drug and provide an important argument in favor of the hypothesis about the similarity of the mechanisms of formation of the resistance of neurons and β cells to the cytotoxic influences.