title: Effect of superoxide dismutase, catalase, chelating agents, and free radical scavengers on the toxicity of alloxan to isolated pancreatic islets in vitro.
abstract: The effect of superoxide dismutase, catalase, metal-chelating agents and hydroxyl radical scavengers on the toxicity of alloxan to isolated ob/ob mouse pancreatic islets in vitro has been compared with the reported ability of such substances to protect against alloxan diabetes in vivo. Superoxide dismutase and catalase protected beta-cells of isolated pancreatic islets against alloxan cytotoxicity, as did the hydroxyl radical scavengers dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and butanol. However, 1,3-dimethylurea and thiourea, that are recognised as effective hydroxyl radical scavengers and that protect animals against the diabetogenic effects of alloxan, were without effect. Similarly, desferrioxamine, that inhibits hydroxyl radical formation from alloxan in chemically defined systems, did not protect against alloxan toxicity. Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, which does not inhibit hydroxyl radical formation from alloxan, also gave no significant protection. The results indicate a role for superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide in the mechanism of toxicity of alloxan but do not support the involvement of the hydroxyl radical in this process. Alternative explanations must be sought for the ability of hydroxyl radical scavengers and metal-chelating agents to protect against alloxan toxicity in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy I, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jörns
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiedge
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenzen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munday
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000496:Alloxan / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D000496:Alloxan; D020001:1-Butanol; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003676:Deferoxamine; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide