Measurement of asymmetric dimethylarginine, nitric oxide levels and total antioxidant capacity in experimcntal diabetic rats

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the status of oxidative stress and nitric oxide related parameters in diabetic rats. In experimental animals (12 rats) diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single 50 mg/kg dose of streptozotocin. At the end of the experiment, in the blood serum of the control and experimental animals ADMA, NO was measured by using ELISA test. Serum levels of GSH, MDA and ceruloplasmin as well as TAC were detected in all animals. Compared to the control animals serum MDA levels in diabetic rats were remarkably and significantly (P<0.05) higher (26.38±1.94 µmol/L and 42.23±1.24 µmol/L, respectively). On the other hand, a statistically significant (P<0.05) decrease from 4.39±0.15 mg/dl to 4.00±0.09 mg/dl was detected in serum GSH levels of the diabetic rats. Compared to the serum ceruloplasmin levels of healthy rats (35.05±2.79 mg/dl), diabetic rats showed a significant decrease (P<0.001) in their serum ceruloplasmin concentration (23.10±1.65 mg/dl). Likewise, serum ADMA concentration of experimental animals (7.26±0.86 ng/ml) was higher than that of controls (5.59±0.75 ng/ml) but not significantly (P>0.05). As to serum TAC, compared to the control rats a statistically significant (P<0.05) decline was observed in diabetic rats. Serum TAC of diabetic rats reduced from 1.01±0.06 mmol trolox equivalent/L to 0.87±0.03 mmol trolox equivalent/L. Serum NO concentration of experimental animals (30.42±2.48 µM/ml) was significantly (P<0.05) less than that of controls (62.28±10.74 µM/ml).