title: Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Oxidative Stress and Kinin Receptor Expression in Obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of alpha-lipoic acid on superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity as well as on the expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in key organs of obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Superoxide anion production was measured by lucigenin chemiluminescence. Kinin B1 and B2 receptors expression was measured at protein and mRNA levels by western blot and qRT-PCR in key organs of Zucker Diabetic Fatty and Zucker lean control rats treated for a period of 6 weeks with a standard diet or a diet containing the antioxidant α-lipoic acid (1 g/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity were significantly enhanced in aorta and adipose tissue of Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats. Kinin B1 and B2 receptors expression levels were also significantly increased in the liver and the gastrocnemius muscle of Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats. Expression of both receptors was not altered in the pancreas of Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats and was undetectable in white retroperitoneal adipose tissue. Alpha-lipoic acid prevented the rise in NADPH oxidase activity in aorta and epididymal adipose tissue of Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats and the upregulation of kinin B1 receptor in liver and gastrocnemius muscle and that of kinin B2 receptor in the liver. Alpha-lipoic acid treatment was found to prevent the final body weight increase without affecting significantly hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance index in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the hypothesis that oxidative stress is implicated in the induction of kinin B1 receptor in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats. The ability of α-lipoic acid to blunt the body weight gain appears to be mediated in part by preventing NADPH oxidase activity rise in adipose tissue and reversing the hepatic upregulation of kinin B1 receptor in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station City-Center, Montréal, Qc, H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Adil El
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Midaoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station City-Center, Montréal, Qc, H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station City-Center, Montréal, Qc, H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lahjouji
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station City-Center, Montréal, Qc, H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Jenny Pena
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Banting and Best Diabetes Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, On, M5G 2C4 Canada.
authors.forename: I George
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Fantus
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Station City-Center, Montréal, Qc, H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Réjean
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Couture
keywords: Alpha-lipoic acid; Diabetes; Kinin receptors; Obesity; Oxidative stress