Effect of streptozotocin on erythrocyte and retinal superoxide dismutase

Abstract

The Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of rat retinae and erythrocytes was decreased by 30-40% from control levels 5 days after the induction of diabetes with streptozotocin. Homogenates prepared from lungs, liver, brains, aortas, kidneys, whole eyes and lens of streptozotocin-diabetic rats showed no change in SOD activity. Treatment with insulin for three days which restored plasma glucose levels close to normal failed to affect retinal SOD activity in diabetic rats. Retinas (rat and bovine) and erythrocytes (human and rat) showed decreased SOD activity following in vitro incubation with streptozotocin. The need for careful differentiation of drug-induced from diabetes-induced effects in studies of experimental diabetes is reemphasized. © 1978 Springer-Verlag.