Effects of antioxidants on mouse diabetes caused by alloxan administration (767.2)

Abstract

The reactive oxygen species generated with alloxan and reducing agents in the body selectively injure β‐cells in the pancreas so as to cause diabetes. As alloxan generated hydrogen peroxide with reduced glutathione, acatalasemic mice, having a quite low catalase activity in blood, became diabetic with a smaller dose than those having normal one. As the injury caused by oxidative stress is ameliorated by the intake of antioxidants, we chose vitamin E and a fermented burdock to serve as antioxidants. Effects of these diets on acatalasemic mouse diabetes caused by alloxan were examined. Mice were maintained on a control diet and one of these antioxidant diets, respectively, for 14 weeks. Alloxan was then intraperitoneally administered, and blood glucose, glucose tolerance and the insulin level in mouse blood were examined. The incidence of hyperglycemia in the mice maintained on the control diet was significantly higher than that in the mice maintained on the supplemented diet. The abnormal glucose metabolism caused by alloxan administration was ameliorated by both supplemented diets. It is deduced that these antioxidants can prevent a decrease of insulin concentration in the blood in this mouse model.