Effects of L-carnitine on oksidative stress of streptozotocine induced diabetes mellitus in rats

ABSTRACT Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus results from an inflammatory process leading to destruction of the insulin producing p cells of the pancreas. It is posibble that a number of quite different initiating events may lead to p cell destruction through a common pathway of immune alterations or chemical (toxic) events. Recent research has implicated alterations in the lymphokines and related compounds as well as the accumulation of free radicals as direct mechanisms of p cell damage. Toxin induced diabetes in animals can be prevented by antioxidant therapy, while an agent that inhibitis hydroxyl radical formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of L-camitine on preventing diabetes and its effects on pancreas lipid peroxidation. Giving L- carnitine prior to streptozotocin did not have any effects on the blood glucose levels in diabetes induced by streptozotocin. There was no significant change on the pancreas süperoksid dismutase enzyme activity, however GPx activity was found to be decreased in both the carnitin-taking control group and the carnitin-taking diabetic group. Lipid peroxidation was decreased in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic group compared to the diabetic group, but not changed in the carnitin-taking control group. L- carnitine GPx activity was reduced in the diabetic animals' pancreas due to an unexplained reason. No effect of L-carnitine was observed on streptozotocin induced diabetes. 72