4,4'-Dichloro-diphenyl diselenide modulated oxidative stress that affected differently peripheral tissues in streptozotocin-exposed mice

Streptozotocin (STZ) is a substance used experimentally to induce a diabetes model, a metabolic disease associated with oxidative tissue damage. This study evaluated if dichloro-diphenyl diselenide (p-ClPhSe)2 modulates oxidative stress in peripheral tissues of diabetic mice. Male Swiss mice received a single STZ injection (i.p) at a dose of 200 mg/kg or its vehicle and were treated with (p-ClPhSe)2 (7 days, 5 mg/kg) or metformin (200 mg/kg, 2x/day). After, the mice were euthanized to collect liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle samples. In the liver, (p-ClPhSe)2 reduced TBARS and protein carbonyl levels and normalized the SOD activity in STZ-treated mice. In the kidney, (p-ClPhSe)2 reversed the increase in the reactive species levels but not the CAT activity reduction in STZ-treated mice. There was no evidence of oxidative damage in the skeletal muscle of STZ-treated mice, but an increase in the CAT activity and a reduction in non-protein thiol levels were found. (p-ClPhSe)2 did not reverse a decrease in hepatic and renal δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in STZ-treated mice. The results show that the liver and kidney of STZ-treated mice were more susceptible to oxidative stress. This study reveals that (p-ClPhSe)2 modulated oxidative stress, which differently affected peripheral tissues of diabetic mice.