Oxidative status of erythrocytes, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in diabetic cats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Erythrocytes of diabetic cats have decreased superoxide dismutase activity, possibly indicative of oxidative stress. HYPOTHESIS: Erythrocytes of diabetic cats undergo oxidative stress, which is caused by hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and improves with treatment. ANIMALS: Twenty-seven client-owned cats with diabetes mellitus, 11 matched healthy cats, and 21 purpose-bred healthy cats. METHODS: Prospective study. Advanced oxidized protein products, carbonyls (protein oxidation by-products), and thiols (antioxidants) were quantified in erythrocyte membrane, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBAR, lipid peroxidation by-products), and thiols in erythrocyte cytoplasm of all cats. Comparison were performed between diabetic and matched healthy cats, between diabetic cats achieving remission or not, and among purpose-bred cats after 10&#x2009;days of hyperglycemia (n = 5) or hyperlipidemia (n = 6) versus controls treated with saline (n = 5) or untreated (n = 5). RESULTS: Compared with controls, erythrocytes of diabetic cats initially had higher median membrane carbonyls (4.6 nmol/mg total protein [range: 0.1-37.7] versus 0.7 [0.1-4.7], P <&#x2009;.001) and lower cytoplasmic TBAR (1.9 nmol/mg [0.5-2.4] versus 2.4 [1.4-3.5] P <&#x2009;.001), and thiols (419&#x2009;nmol/mg [165-621] versus 633 [353-824], P <&#x2009;0.001). After 12-16&#x2009;weeks of treatment in diabetic cats, carbonyls decreased by 13% (P <&#x2009;.001), but remained higher (P <&#x2009;.001) and TBAR and thiols lower (P =&#x2009;.02, P <&#x2009;.001) than those in controls. No differences were observed between diabetic cats achieving remission or not, and among purpose-bred cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased protein oxidation and reduced antioxidant defenses, which persist during treatment and remission, although mild improvement in protein oxidation occurs. Short-term hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia does not cause oxidative stress. The reason for decreased TBAR remains unknown.