Alterations in tissue antioxidant systems in the spontaneously diabetic (BB Wistar) rat

Tissue antioxidant status in insulin-dependent spontaneously diabetic BB Wistar rats (ISDBB), diabetes-prone nondiabetic littermates (NDLM), and weight-matched non-BB control Wistar rats was investigated in pancreas, heart, and liver, as well as kidney. Pancreatic activities of CuZn-superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase (GSSG-RD) were higher in ISDBB rats, while catalase (CAT) activities were elevated in both ISDBB and their NDLM compared with control animals. On the other hand, pancreatic reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased in both ISDBB and NDLM rats. Cardiac tissues of ISDBB rats had higher activities of CAT and GSSG-RD and elevated levels of GSH compared with weight-matched control rats. Hepatic GSH levels in both ISDBB and their NDLM were lower than those of control rats. ISDBB rats showed higher renal activities of glutathione peroxidase compared with control rats. Our results demonstrate the presence of alterations in tissue antioxidant status in BB Wistar rats (both diabetic BB rats and their diabetes-prone nondiabetic littermates). The fact that most of the enzyme changes present in BB rats with overt diabetes paralleled those we have previously reported in rats with uncontrolled streptozotocin-induced diabetes and the fact that the latter alterations were corrected with insulin therapy suggest that the alterations in diabetic BB rats were probably related to suboptimal insulin therapy. The significance of the alterations in antioxidant status seen in the nondiabetic BB animals is as yet unknown.