Objective To assess the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative stress induced pancreatic islet cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetic rats.
Methods High-calorie diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin was used to establish a type 2 diabetic rat model. Then the model rats were treated by alpha-lipoic acid (15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg body weight) for 12 weeks before detecting pancreatic oxidative stress, apoptosis of pancreatic cells, and changes in the expression levels of pancreatic apoptosis-related proteins.
Results The pancreatic malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased in all alpha-lipoic acid intervented groups (P<0.01), while the total superoxide disumutase and the glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased (P<0.01), compared with the model control rats. The apoptotic indices were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in all intervention groups except the 15 mg/kg body weight group, compared with the model control rats, and the highest intervention effect was found in the 60 mg/kg body weight group. The protein levels of Bax, Fas, activated Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 decreased, and the Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly in all intervention groups.
Conclusion Apoptosis rates of pancreatic cells are down-regulated by alpha-lipoic acid via ameliorating pancreatic oxidative stress and related protein levels.
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