Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Enzymes Assessment in Alloxan Monohydrate Induced Hyperglycaemic Male Wistar Rats Following Oral Administration of Theophylline

Aim: Lipids are referred to as one of the primary targets of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The main sources of oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus comprise various enzymatic pathways, non-enzymatic pathways and mitochondrial pathways. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of theophylline and treatment on lipid peroxidation (serum malondialdehyde concentration) and some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and Catalase) in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic male Wistar rats.

Study Design: Thirty apparently healthy male wistar rats weighing between 160-180 g were grouped into five of six animals each (n=6) and treated for a period of fourteen days (14) after induction of hyperglycaemia using alloxan monohydrate.

Methodology: Group 1: (Normoglycaemic) Group 2: Diabetic control (DC), Group 3: Glibenclamide, 5mg/kg, Groups 4 and 5; theophylline 5 mg/kg and 10mg/kg respectively. At the end of the fourteen (14) days, rats were anaesthetized using ketamine and diazepam at 75 and 25 (mg/kg). Blood samples were taken from all treated groups for evaluation of serum MDA, SOD, GPx and CAT level.

Results: The result on serum MDA concentration was significantly decreased (P< 0.05) in glibenclamide treated group compared to diabetic control; 1.14±0.03 vs 1.32±0.06. Although a decrease was observed in the theophylline treated groups, the difference was however not statistically significant compared to diabetic control. There was also a significant increase (P< 0.05) in serum SOD and CAT level in the glibenclamide and theophylline treated group (5 mg/kg) compared to DC; 2.02±0.04 and 1.92±0.24 vs 0.92±0.05 respectively for serum SOD and 53.20±0.58 and 52.80±1.07 vs 46.00±0.84 respectively for CAT. However, serum GPx increased significantly (P< 0.05) only in the theophylline treated groups compared to DC.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Theophylline and Glibenclamide decreases lipid peroxidation while increasing serum antioxidant levels in alloxan induced hyperglycaemic male Wistar rats after 14 days oral administration.