The susceptibility to autoxidation of erythrocytes in diabetic mice: Effects of melatonin and pentoxifylline.

Oxidative stress had a great importance in development of complications in diabetes. We investigated effects of melatonin and pentoxifylline in diabetic mice. Swiss albino mice (n = 40) were divided into four groups: alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus (DM), alloxan-induced diabetes with melatonin supplementation (DM + MLT), alloxan-induced diabetes with pentoxifylline supplementation (DM + PTX), and control. Glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and susceptibility to oxidation of erythrocytes were measured. MDA levels were higher than control in the DM and DM + MLT. The DM had more MDA level than the DM + MLT and DM + PTX (P < 0.001). After in vitro oxidation, MDA levels of all groups were found higher than the control. However, they were significantly lower than the DM in DM + PTX and DM + MLT (P < 0.001). Although GSH levels of the DM and DM + PTX were less than the control, GSH-Px activity of the DM was lower than the control and DM + PTX (P < 0.05). We suggest that there is increased oxidative stress and compromised antioxidant status of erythrocytes in diabetes; however, it can be effectively prevented by melatonin or pentoxifylline supplementation.