NO levels in diabetes mellitus: Effects of l-NAME and insulin on LCAT, Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity and lipid profile.

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease and one of the most important health problems. Several factors may be responsible for the complications of diabetes mellitus including alterations in the activities of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+)/K(+) ATPase) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and also levels of nitric oxide (NO). We have investigated the effects of alterations in serum NO levels on activities of erythrocyte membran Na/K ATPase and serum LCAT enzymes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiments were performed on male rats divided into four groups: group 1, control (standart diet); group 2, diabetic control (single dose of 65mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ), i.p); group 3, STZ+insulin (8IU/kg/day s.c.); group 4 (STZ+l-NAME 5mg/kg/day orally).

RESULT

Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, showed a significant increase in blood glucose and serum cholesterol (C) and triglyceride (TG). Compared to the control group with diabetic group plasma LCAT concentrations and erythrocyte membrane Na(+)/K(+) ATPase were found to be decreased. Activities of Na(+)/K(+) ATPase and serum NO level were decreased with the administration of l-NAME. We observed that insulin was ameliorated in all parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum NO levels is related to erythrocyte membrane Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity. But serum NO levels did not affect the plasma LCAT activity and serum lipid profiles.