The effect of quercetin on oxidative stress markers and mitochondrial permeability transition in the heart of rats with type 2 diabetes

Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and induction of mitochondrial permeability transition in cardiomyocytes are linked to tissue damage and the development of diabetic cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of quercetin (Q) on oxidative stress and mitochondrial permeability transition in the heart of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 2 DM was induced in 12-week-old male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections of 25 mg/kg streptozotocin twice per week followed by a high-fat diet during four weeks. The rats were divided into three groups: control intact group (C, n = 8), untreated diabetic group (Diabetes, n = 8) and diabetic rats treated with Q (50 mg/kg/day per os for 8 weeks) after diabetes induction (Diabetes+Q, n = 8). Administration of Q increased insulin sensitivity and normali­zed the functional state of cardiac mitochondria due to increased aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase activities in rats with type 2 DM. Q also ameliorated oxidative stress, decreasing the level of advanced oxidation protein products and increasing the activity of thioredoxin-reductase in heart mitochondria of diabetic rats. In addition, Ca2+-induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore was significantly inhibited in diabetic rats treated with Q in comparison with the untreated diabetic group. These data demonstrate that Q can protect against oxidative stress, mitochondrial permeability transition induction and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes of diabetic rats. We suggest that the use of Q may contribute to the amelioration of cardiovascular risk in type 2 DM.