Elevated Plasma and Liver tissue Uric Acid Levels in Alloxan Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Abnormal levels of serum uric acid (UA) causes major health problem due to its pivotal role in the etiology of many systemic diseases. Many research works in recent past have shown elevated uric acid levels in diabetic subjects. Some reports indicate that uric acid elevation is related to diabetic complications, whereas a few claimed that uric acid elevation is also seen in pre-diabetic condition.The reason for this elevation of uric acid and a possible role of insulin in this regard is obscure. Hence a study has been undertaken to assess the uric acid status in alloxan diabetic rats with an attempt to establish the possible cause for uric acid elevation. Methods: The studies were carried out on healthy male Wistar rats with a body weight of 150-180g. The rats were divided into two groups,normal group (Group-1) and alloxan diabetic group (Group-2) with six animals in each group. Induction of diabetes was done by administering a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared aqueous solution of Alloxan Monohydrate (150mg/ Kg body weight) prepared in normal saline, to the overnight fasted rats. After the stipulated period of 30 days, the animals (Group-1 and Group-2) were anesthetized using Isoflurane and sacrificed. They were dissected immediately and liver tissue was procured, blotted to remove blood stains, and placed in cold phosphate buffer saline (pH7.4). Blood samples were collected using heparin as anticoagulant.The uric acid levels in plasma, erythrocytes and in liver tissue as well as the levels of ADA in plasma and liver tissue were estimated. Results: A significant (p<0.001) rise in uric acid levels in plasma, erythrocytes and liver tissue as well as increased levels of ADA in plasma and liver tissue was observed in alloxan diabetic rats compared to normal control. Conclusion: The increased uric acid levels noticed in alloxan diabetic rats may be due to increased catabolism of purines as evidenced by increased activity of ADA.