title: Effect of an inhibitor of nitric oxide production on Cu-Zn/SOD and its cofactors in diabetic rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an inhibitor of nitric oxide production, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther (L-NAME) on Cu-Zn/SOD (superoxide dismutase) enzyme activity and copper and zinc concentrations in diabetes-induced rats. The control group consisted of 12 male albino Sprague-Dawley rats, 10-12 wk of age and weighing 300 g. Twenty-six albino Sprague-Dawley rats, 10-12 wk of age and weighing 315 g, constituted the experimental group. The experimental group was divided into two groups. The first group (n=12) constituted streptozotocininduced (55 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) diabetic rats and the second group (n=14) was administered L-NAME (1 mg/kg/d) after streptozotocin induction. For determination of Cu-Zn/SOD activity, spectrophotometry was used. Zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that Cu-Zn/SOD activity was increased significantly in both experimental groups compared to controls, and the increase in the second group was higher than in the first group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05). Plazma zinc concentration was increased in the second group when compared with controls (p<0.05). Plasma copper was decreased significantly in the second group compared to controls and the first group (p<0.001, p<0.001). Red cell copper concentration was decreased significantly in the first group compared to controls (p<0.05). This study showed that L-NAME administration has ensured an additive effect on the antioxidant defense system, which was proved by the increase in Cu-Zn/SOD activity. This increase might have a protective effect against tissue damage in the acute period, with corresponding changes in zinc and copper concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin Aribal
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kocatürk
authors.forename: Güzin Ozelçi
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Kavas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003067:Coenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013311:Streptozocin; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015032:Zinc; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester