Search

Alzheimer's disease (AD) exemplifies a form of diabetes mellitus that selectively affects the brain. In this study we evaluated serum markers and genes linked to AD and investigated the possible link between AD and diabetes. We measured the serum levels of insulin, lactate, citrulline, argininosuccinate, homocitrulline, and AD-associated lipids (2,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid and sphinganine-1-phosphate). We used semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to determine the relative gene expression of Rest, Bace1, and Rtn3 in the brain. Western blotting was used to determine the relative protein expression of REST, BACE1, and RTN3 in the brain. Serum from diabetic rats showed significantly higher levels of citrulline, homocitrulline, lactate, 2,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid, and sphinganine-1-phosphate, but lower levels of argininosuccinate and insulin compared with serum from control rats. At the gene level, Bace1 and Rest were significantly increased, whereas Rtn3 was considerably reduced in diabetic compared with control rat brains. At the protein level, BACE1 and RTN3 were significantly increased whereas REST was significantly reduced in diabetic compared with control rat brains. These findings indicate that hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in the brain may be the common element that connects urate turnover and alterations in neural regulatory genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder which may lead to various complications, the important being dyslipidemia leading to Coronary Heart Disorders (CHD), the major cause for morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Diabetes Mellitus could be treated by nutritional therapy/drug therapy and others. But the drug therapy would have its own limitations and side effects. To overcome from this an herbal extract is recommended, such as Diallyl Disulphide (DADS) a principle compound of Garlic oil. Aim: To assess the hypolipidemic effect of Diallyl Disulphide (DADS) in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Healthy adult wistar strain male albino rats weighing around 100-150 grams were randomly selected from the animal house at BLDE University’s Shri B.M.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Bijapur, India. Diabetes was induced using alloxan and was treated with DADS. After a stipulated time the rats were anesthetised and sacrificed to collect the blood and liver tissue. Various Lipid parameters, HMG CoA Reductase, Fecal bile acids were estimated in the blood, feces and homogenised liver tissue using standard procedures. Statiscal Analysis: One-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc t-test is done. Result: There was significant decrease in the blood and liver tissue lipid parameters of DADS treated alloxan induced diabetic rats when compared to the alloxan induced diabetic rats. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that the DADS a principle compound of garlic, definitely has the hypolipidemic effect in diabetic rats, which is reducing the morbidity in diabetic cases due to dyslipidemia without the adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal levels of serum uric acid (UA) causes major health problem due to its pivotal role in the etiology of many systemic diseases. Many research works in recent past have shown elevated uric acid levels in diabetic subjects. Some reports indicate that uric acid elevation is related to diabetic complications, whereas a few claimed that uric acid elevation is also seen in pre-diabetic condition.The reason for this elevation of uric acid and a possible role of insulin in this regard is obscure. Hence a study has been undertaken to assess the uric acid status in alloxan diabetic rats with an attempt to establish the possible cause for uric acid elevation. Methods: The studies were carried out on healthy male Wistar rats with a body weight of 150-180g. The rats were divided into two groups,normal group (Group-1) and alloxan diabetic group (Group-2) with six animals in each group. Induction of diabetes was done by administering a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared aqueous solution of Alloxan Monohydrate (150mg/ Kg body weight) prepared in normal saline, to the overnight fasted rats. After the stipulated period of 30 days, the animals (Group-1 and Group-2) were anesthetized using Isoflurane and sacrificed. They were dissected immediately and liver tissue was procured, blotted to remove blood stains, and placed in cold phosphate buffer saline (pH7.4). Blood samples were collected using heparin as anticoagulant.The uric acid levels in plasma, erythrocytes and in liver tissue as well as the levels of ADA in plasma and liver tissue were estimated. Results: A significant (p<0.001) rise in uric acid levels in plasma, erythrocytes and liver tissue as well as increased levels of ADA in plasma and liver tissue was observed in alloxan diabetic rats compared to normal control. Conclusion: The increased uric acid levels noticed in alloxan diabetic rats may be due to increased catabolism of purines as evidenced by increased activity of ADA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress is a pathological state, wherein oxidative forces surpass the antioxidant systems due to the loss of balance between them, leads to several diseased conditions including diabetes mellitus (DM), atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemic diseases, and malignancies. Experimental and clinical studies evidenced that the chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes is associated with oxidative stress-mediated tissue damage. Among the various tissues, liver tissue is more susceptible to oxidative stress due to relatively less intrinsic antioxidant defense system. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is an organosulfur compound which possesses diverse biological properties such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Aim: The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of DADS on hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative damage in liver tissues of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methodology: Diabetic rats were treated with DADS (100 mg/kg b. w.) orally for 30 days. Results: The results indicates that DADS feeding significantly improved hepatic glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzyme activities where as a fall in lipid peroxide levels, which is further evidenced by histological studies. Conclusion: The therapeutic potential of DADS on the extent of oxidative stress was assessed by determining the levels of lipid peroxide, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzyme activities in liver tissues. Liver histological observation also clearly evidenced the protective role of DADS against hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative damage which, in turn, attributed to the antioxidant potential of the DADS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]