Effect of the sulfonylurea glyburide on superoxide dismutase activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rat hepatocytes.

In the present study we administrated glyburide (glibenclamide) to type 2 (NIDDM) diabetic rats and determined the effect of such treatment on liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Hepatic SOD activity was significantly reduced in diabetic animals. Glyburide treatment of diabetic rats for 4 weeks corrected the changes observed in diabetic liver. In addition, blood glucose levels of untreated diabetic rats decreased following glyburide treatment. Administration of glyburide to diabetic rats reversed the diabetes-induced changes, suggesting that glyburide may directly increase liver SOD enzyme activity.