Influence of vanadyl sulphate [VOSO4] on biochemical activity and morphology of control and streptozotocin-diabetic rat liver Golgi complexes.

The authors describe the influence of vanadyl sulphate on liver Golgi complexes in control and streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. VOSO4, one of inorganic vanadium compounds widely used in animal models and human diabetes, acts as an insulin-mimetic drug and is relatively well known as a complex activated or inhibited on many enzymes involved in carbohydrate or lipid metabolic pathways. A relatively small in scope investigation was performed on subcellular levels, while changes of Golgi complexes under vanadium influence have not been described with the exception of our previous investigations with four organic derivatives. This paper presents the action of vanadyl sulphate used in 3mM in 0.5% NaCl as a drinking solution for 7 days on control and STZ-diabetic rat liver Golgi complexes. Changes induced by this vanadium compound were greater in the controls as compared to the diabetic rats, what was true for both biochemical and morphological data. Physiological and biochemical analyses showed a partial normalization of the investigated parameters in diabetic animals after short time treatment with vanadyl ions, although STZ-diabetic, vanadium treated rats were affected by two types of adverse effects exterted by these compounds. The controls manifested more numerous and advanced subcellular changes. The moderately developed Golgi apparatus showed no major changes. In the control group, subcellular changes were seen sporadically. More extended Golgi complexes showed certain anomalies.