title: Aminoguanidine partially prevents the reduction in liver pyruvate kinase activity in diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low molecular weight aldehydes and carbonyl compounds which are derived from glucose metabolism are prevalent in diabetic plasma. These compounds react to amino groups of Lys and Arg and lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). This modification changes the function of the proteins. The present study aimed to survey the effect of diabetes on rat liver pyruvate kinase activity and to show the inhibitory effect of aminoguanidine (AG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats (n = 18, 6 to 8 weeks old) were divided randomly in three groups: the first group as control; second and third groups were induced diabetes using streptozocin. Third group received AG orally for 8 weeks after diabetes induction. Liver cell homogenate was prepared from all studied groups and L-type pyruvate kinase was separated from the homogenate. Pyruvate kinase activity was determined in both liver cell homogenate and extracted L-type PK. The PK activity was compared in all samples between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PK activity in isolated form and in liver cell homogenate was lower in diabetic rats as compared to control group. AG-treated group showed higher PK activity compared to untreated diabetic group; however, the difference was not significant. Non-significant difference in PK activity between AG-treated diabetic and non-diabetic (control) group indicated the inhibitory effect of AG in glycation of PK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results showed PK activity decreased in diabetic rats and AG can partially prevent the reduction in PK activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry Medical School, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 65178 Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alimohammad Amiri
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Majd
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 65178 Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry Medical School, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 65178 Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Taghi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hassanzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry Medical School, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 65178 Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Heidar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavilani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry Medical School, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 65178 Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karimi
keywords: Aminoguanidine; diabetes; liver; pyruvate kinase; rat