The role of oxidative stress in diabetic cardiomyopathy: an experimental study

1 E. Aksakal, 2 N. Akaras, 3 M. Kurt, 3 I.H. Tanboga, 4 Z. Halici, 5 F. Odabasoglu, 1 E.M. Bakirci, 2 B. Unal

¹ Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum (Turkey)
² Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum (Turkey)
³ Department of Cardiology, Erzurum Education and Research Hospital, Erzurum (Turkey)
⁴ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum (Turkey)
⁵ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Atatürk University, Erzurum (Turkey)

 

---

• Cardiology

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a negative effect on cardiovascular functions. Little, however, is known of the overall effect of DM on the cardiac histology or the pathophysiological basis of this.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the role of oxidative stress on the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy in an experimental model.

Materials and Methods: 12 week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into a healthy control group (n=6) and an DM group (n=6). After 12 weeks of alloxan induced DM, the groups’ cardiac tissues were histopathologically analyzed and examined for determination of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes [activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO)].

Results: When compared to the control group, the DM group showed cardiomyopathic changes. In the DM group, activities of CAT (144±0.9 vs 112±1.4, p < 0.05) and LPO amount (27.0±0.74 vs 14.4±0, 20, p < 0.05) were significantly increased whereas activities of SOD (142±0.2 vs 146±0.7, p < 0.05) and amount of GSH (3.48±0.01 vs 3.73±0.01, p < 0.05) were significantly decreased when compared to the control group. Besides, activities of MPO (7.3±0.02 vs 8.6±0.11, p < 0.05) were comparable between groups.

Conclusions: Using the experimental animal model, we were able to demonstrate that DM causes cardiomyopathic changes, and we propose that these changes could be mediated by an oxidative stress.

Corresponding Author: Enbiya Aksakal, MD; e-mail: drenbiya@yahoo.com

Free PDF Download