Exogenous glutamine ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of glutamine (Gln) on diabetic nephropathy and other complications in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Streptozotocin/nicotinamide induced diabetic rats were enrolled as an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Animals were divided into control, diabetic, and Gln (1000 mg/l in drinking water, eight weeks) treated diabetic groups. Gln alleviated renal inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6, glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione), decreased serum uric acid and creatinine, and restored renal histopathological changes (glomerular volume, sclerosis, and leukocyte infiltration). Additionally, Gln ameliorated other complications, including systemic oxidative stress (serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, serum and liver glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and total superoxide dismutase, and liver catalase), insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, and hyperlipidaemia. Collectively, Gln attenuates diabetic nephropathy and other complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Keywords:

• Glutamine
• diabetic nephropathy
• oxidative stress
• inflammation

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. They as well as thank the boss and personnel of the Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center of the Lorestan Medical University. The work presented in this manuscript was extracted from the dissertation of Maryam Nasri, submitted to Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for MSc in clinical biochemistry.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding authors, Esmaeel Babaeenezhad and Hassan Ahmadvand. The data is not publicly available due to restrictions, e.g. containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.