BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal symptoms are frequent in diabetes mellitus and may be related to the oxidative stress, which is defined by an imbalance between the pro-oxidant and antioxidant systems. AIMS: To assess some of the gastrointestinal changes in the diabetes mellitus model, such as the oxidative stress in the stomach and liver of diabetic animals and the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery at different times of study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g were used and ascribed to four different groups as follows: group I - 7 days of diabetes, group II - 30 days of diabetes, group III - 60 days of diabetes, and group IV - 90 days of diabetes. Diabetes was obtained by administering streptozotocin (70 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. RESULTS: A significant increase in liver and stomach lipoperoxidation of diabetic animals was found only at 90 days. A significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase e glutathione transferase was found in stomach, whereas in liver only glutathione transferase was significantly decreased. The blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery of animals with 90 days of diabetes was increased as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to suppose that the increase in the oxidative stress in stomach and liver as well as the change in the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery are affected by the length of diabetes and the hyperglycemia found in the animals studied, which would determine gastrointestinal changes.
Diabetes mellitus, experimental; Oxidative stress; Mesenteric arteries; Regional blood flow; Rats
