INTRAUTERINE EXPOSURE TO MATERNAL DIABETES: ALTERATIONS ON OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS AND DEPOSITION SPLENIC IRON IN RATS

Abstract

Recent evidence shows that iron overload is a risk factor for diabetes associates the oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia. The aim of this work was to investigate the levels of splenic iron as well as the levels of lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) in offspring from diabetic mothers (DG) compared to control mothers (ND). Diabetes mellitus was induced in female Wistar rats by streptozotocin (42 mg/kg, i.p.) injected on the 7th day of pregnancy. Offspring DG and ND were analyzed with six months of age. In these animals, metabolic parameters, such as glucose tolerance was examined. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and activities of GSH was performed on the liver tissue. For quantification of the splenic iron, histological sections were analyzed by histomorphometry. Metabolic tests revealed that M-DG offspring also showed impaired glucose tolerance in 15 (p < 0,01) and 90 (p < 0,05) minutes. Splenic iron levels were elevated in DG as well as the levels of TBARS in the liver. Hepatic GSH concentration was reduced compared to ND. The results show that glucose intolerance, elevated levels of splenic iron, oxidative stress and reduced glutathione levels in the offspring DG could be associated with the development of diabetes and its complications in adulthood and the that our model of exposure in uterus maternal diabetes induced transient glucose intolerance with major effects on iron metabolism.