OBJECTIVES: Recent basic research and clinical data have provided new insights into the role of glycoxidative and nitrosative stresses (both oxidative stress) in diabetic complications, such as diabetic nephropathy, suggesting a different and innovative approach to antioxidant therapy. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat kidney, the present study investigated the effects of the synthetic pyridoindole antioxidant stobadine (STB) on renal total antioxidant potential (AOP) and protein oxidation parameters such as protein carbonyl content (PCC), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and nitrotyrosine (NT), a marker specific for protein modification by peroxynitrite.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar Albino rats were divided into two groups: normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Each group of the animals was further divided into two groups: untreated and treated with stobadine (24.7 mg/kg) during 16 weeks daily by oral gavage.
RESULTS: The renal tissue AOP and the levels of AOPPs, PCC and NT were increased in diabetic rats compared with the untreated control animals. Furthermore, stobadine treatment significantly decreased protein carbonylation and AOPPs but not NT.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that STB is an antioxidant factor which can improve glycoxidative stress markers in kidney, while it has no effect on protein nitrosylation.