Decreased glutathione peroxidase activity in sciatic nerve of alloxan-induced diabetic mice and its correlation with blood glucose levels.

The effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in sciatic nerve of mice has been studied. We have found, 7 days after alloxan treatment, a significant decrease in this enzymatic activity in the cytosol of sciatic nerve of diabetic mice, and moreover, that these changes remained unaltered up to 21 days after alloxan injection. No modification in the glutathione content of sciatic nerve of diabetic mice was observed throughout the experiment when compared with controls. The decrease in GSH-Px activity in this tissue shows a good correlation with the increase of blood glucose levels throughout the experiment. It is hypothesized whether a combination of mechanisms could be involved in this decrease of GSH-Px activity and if oxygen radicals might be the common mediators of these processes.