Tissue specific expression and immunohistochemical localization of glutathione S-transferase in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats: Modulation by Momordica charantia (karela) extract

Haider Raza, Ijaz Ahmed, Annie John

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, destruction of pancreatic beta-cell causes an acute shortage of insulin. Increased oxidative stress is believed to be one of the main factors in the etiology and complications of diabetes. In this study we have reported hyperglycemia and glutathione- associated oxidative stress in rats one week after treatment with STZ. In our previous studies, we have reported oxidative stress-related changes in xenobiotic metabolism in tissues from STZ-induced chronic diabetic rats. Here, we demonstrate by immunohistochemistry, that glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes are differentially expressed in the liver, kidney and testis of diabetic rats. The distribution of GST isoenzymes was found to be tissue- and regio-specific. In addition, we have also shown that treatment with an extract of Momordica charantia (karela), an antidiabetic herb, modulates GST expression in diabetic rats and reverts them to the normal distribution as seen in the tissues of control rats. These results suggest that glutathione metabolism and GST distribution in the tissues of diabetic rats may play an important role in the etiology, pathology and prevention of diabetes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1503-1511
Number of pages9
JournalLife Sciences
Volume74
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 6 2004

Keywords

  • Diabetes
  • Glutathione S-transferase
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Karela
  • Oxidative stress
  • Streptozotocin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)

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