The levels of nitrite, nitrate and lipid peroxidation in diabetic mouse brain: the effect of melatonin and pentoxifylline

Abstract

Objective

This study investigated the relationship between diabetes (DM) and nitrite, nitrate and MDA levels and effect of melatonin and pentoxifylline.

Methods

Sixty mice were randomly divided into four groups. Control: no action; Diabetes group (DM): after fasting-blood-glucose (FBG) was measured, 150 mg/kg alloxane was applied intraperitoneally three-times every other day; Diabetes + Melatonin (DM + MLT) and Diabetes + Pentoxifylline groups (DM + PTX): following the same procedures with DM, 10 mg/kg melatonin and 50 mg/kg pentoxifylline were administered subcutaneously six days, respectively. Following FBG analysis, brain tissues were taken under the anaesthesia. Nitrite, nitrate and MDA levels were measured.

Results

In the all groups with alloxane, FBG were higher than in before application (p < .05). Also, FBG, nitrite, nitrate and MDA levels in the DM + MLT and DM + PTX groups were lower than in the DM (p < .05).

Conclusions

Nitrite and nitrate may be related to etiopathogenesis of DM, and pentoxifylline and especially melatonin relatively decrease nitrite, nitrate and lipid peroxidation.

Keywords:

• Alloxan
• diabetes mellitus
• melatonin
• oxidative stress
• pentoxifylline

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest associated with publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by “Presidency of the Individual Research Projects”, Van Yuzuncu Yıl University [2002-TF-087] and with opportunities from the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine.