Chronic effect of insulin on monoamine oxidase and antioxidant enzyme activities in the rat brainstem.

It was shown that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a possible intracellular second messenger in specific insulin action. Because its concentration in the cell depends on the activity of both antioxidant enzymes and monoamine oxidase (MAO), we studied the influence of different insulin doses (0.4 and 4.0 IU/kg body mass, i.p., daily injected over 3 days) on the activity of MAO, types A and B, copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and catalase in the rat brainstem. Chronic insulin treatment significantly increased Vmax of MAO-A and B activities (P < 0.05, P < 0.025, respectively) independent of the dose applied. CuZnSOD activity was also increased (P < 0.025), but only when higher dose of hormone was injected. However, insulin had the opposite effect on MnSOD and catalase causing a decrease in their activities (P < 0.005). The observed changes in the activities of the enzymes studied are possible compensations that potentially maintain an optimal H2O2 level in the brainstem, which might be important for insulin action.