Effect of L-carnitine on diabetogenic action of streptozotocin in rats.
OBJECTIVE
L-carnitine is a naturally compound widely distributed in the body. It has an antiradical effect and decreases lipid peroxidation. In acute or chronic streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, the pancreatic content of carnitine was found to be significantly lower than nondiabetic group. We investigated the effects of L-carnitine on the development of STZ-induced diabetes in rats, to determine if L-carnitine can prevent the onset of diabetes or reduce the severity of hyperglycemia and this prevention/reduction is associated with the reduction in oxidative stress.


METHODS
The rats were divided into 3 groups: Control, STZ-treated (65 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and L-carnitine (500 mg/kg) and STZ-treated.


METHODS
Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring pancreatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) formation levels using the method of Rehncrona et al, pancreatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities using a Randox test combination (RANSOD and RANDOX).


RESULTS
L-carnitine did not prevent the onset of diabetes at this dose. Development of diabetes was associated with an increase in pancreatic TBARS (0.028 +/- 0.008 and 0.046 +/- 0.017 nmol/mg Protein, respectively), and GPx activity (0.067 +/- 0.011 and 0.098 +/- 0.016 U/mg Protein, respectively).


RESULTS
L-carnitine prevented this increase induced by diabetes; TBARS (0.039 +/- 0.006 nmol/mg Protein) and GPx activity (0.053 +/- 0.011 U/mg Protein).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that L-carnitine exerts anti-oxidative effect in experimental diabetes.
Uysal
Nazan
N
Dept. of Physiology, Medical School, Dokuz Eylul University, Balcova, Izmir, Turkey. nazan.uysal@deu.edu.tr
Yalaz
Giray
G
Acikgoz
Osman
O
Gonenc
Sevil
S
Kayatekin
Berkant Muammer
BM
D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D013311:Streptozocin; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002331:Carnitine