Relationship between malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND This investigation describes the relationship between glutathione peroxidase activities, an antioxidant enzyme, and the oxidative status in diabetic rat blood. METHODS Malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured by spectrophotometric techniques. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Malondialdehyde content in the diabetic rats group was increased compared to that in the controls [3.08+/-0.32 (mean+/-S.E.) vs. 1.15+/-0.29 mM/g hemoglobin, P>0.01]. Glutathione peroxidase activity in the diabetic rats group was increased compared to that in the control [10.27+/-1.39 (mean+/-S.E.) vs. 3.14+/-0.38 micromol NADPH/min/g hemoglobin, P>0.01]. Our results show a positive correlation between serum glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde concentration in diabetic rats.