Effect of vanadyl sulfate feeding on susceptibility to peroxidative change in diabetic rats.

The effects of vanadyl sulfate treatment on susceptibility to oxidative stress were investigated in streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar rats. A 2×2 factorial design was employed, with four groups of animals: 1) untreated, non-diabetic; 2) vanadyl-treated, non-diabetic; 3) untreated, diabetic; and 4) vanadyl-treated,diabetic. Vanadyl sulfate was administered as a 1.00 to 1,25 mg/ml solution in drinking water. Cataract development was entirely suppressed in vanadyl-treated compared to untreated, diabetic rats. STZ-induction of diabetes diminished glutathione (GSH) levels in liver homogenates; whereas vanadyl treatment resulted in restored levels of this nonenzymatic antioxidant