Study of the beneficial effect of vanadium sulfate on the liver of experimental diabetic rats

Abstract

Background and Aims: Liver is a tissue that is negatively affected by diabetes mellitus (DM). This is due to its central function in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Vanadium salts, which have insulinomimetic effects, have been found to stimulate glycogenesis and glycolysis, as well as to inhibit glycogenolysis and lipolysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of vanadium sulfate (VS) on biochemical changes in liver tissue of diabetic rats. Methods: Randomly selected 6.0 - 6.5 months Swiss Albino rats were separated into two diabetic and two control groups. Group I: non treated animals. Group II: non treated animals orally administered VS (100mg/kg/day for 60 days), group III: STZ-induced diabetic animals (65 mg/kg with intraperitoneally) and group IV: STZ-induced diabetic animals administered VS (at same dose and time). Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, as well as alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase, myeloperoxidase, paraoxonase and lactate dehydrogenase were estimated in liver tissue homogenates of the groups. Results: Liver catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase and paraoxonase activities were increased, but alkaline phosphatase, glucose6-phosphate dehydrogenase and myeloperoxidase activities were decreased in diabetic rats when compared to normal rats. Conclusion: Results show that VS restored altered parameters in the liver tissue and prevented oxidative stress in diabetic rats.