In vivo astaxanthin treatment partially prevents antioxidant alterations in dental pulp from alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of astaxanthin on antioxidant parameters of dental pulp from diabetic rats. The hypothesis tested was that supplementation of diabetic rats with astaxanthin might eliminate, or at least attenuate, the defect in their antioxidative status.


METHODS
Wistar rats (n=32) were divided into four groups: untreated control, treated control, untreated diabetic and treated diabetic rats. A prophylactic dose of astaxanthin (20 mg kg(-1) body weight) was administered daily by gavage for 30 days. On day 23, diabetes was induced by injection of alloxan (60 mg kg(-1) body weight). After 7 days of diabetes induction, the rats were killed, and pulp tissue from incisor teeth removed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase activities were determined. Data were compared by anova and the Newman-Keuls test (P<0.05).


RESULTS
Diabetes caused a reduction in SOD, GPx and reductase activity in dental pulp tissue. Astaxanthin had no effect on SOD and catalase activities; however, it stimulated GPx in control and diabetic rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes altered the antioxidant system in dental pulp tissue; astaxanthin partially improved the diabetic complications.
Leite
M F
MF
Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul - São Paulo, Brazil. mariana.leite@cruzeirodosul.edu.br
De Lima
A
A
Massuyama
M M
MM
Otton
R
R
D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D024341:Xanthophylls; D000496:Alloxan; C005948:astaxanthine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase