Effects of STZ‑induced diabetes on zinc, boron and antioxidant defense mechanisms in rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), characterized by dysregulation of glucose metabolism, is a significant global health issue. This study aims to investigate the effects of DM, induced with streptozotocin (STZ), on serum zinc and boron levels as well as antioxidant defense mechanisms in rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, a rat model was utilized where rats, after an overnight fast, were administered a single intraperitoneal dose of STZ to induce type-1 diabetes. Diabetic status was confirmed three days post‑STZ administration with fasting blood glucose levels exceeding 300 mg/dL. Six rats were assigned to the STZ‑induced diabetic (DM group) and control groups (C group). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‑MS) was used to analyze serum samples treated with hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid. Furthermore, serum samples were analyzed using ELISA to measure total oxidant‑antioxidant status (TOS‑TAS). Results: The ICP‑MS method was validated with validation parameters including method linearity (10–500 ng/mL), precision (≤ 3.25% RSD), accuracy (≤ ±2.58% RE), and recovery (98.2 ± 4.53% for zinc and 101.4 ± 5.46% for boron). Our results showed significantly decreased serum levels of both zinc and boron in the DM group compared to the C group (P = 0.001), suggesting a possible link between trace element dysregulation and DM pathogenesis. The DM group showed a statistically significant increase in TOS (P = 0.006); and a decrease in TAS (P = 0.001) compared to the C group. Assessment of oxidative stress parameters demonstrated an imbalance in oxidative stress homeostasis in diabetic rats, further implicating the role of trace elements in DM‑associated complications. Conclusion: These findings contribute valuable insights into the complex interplay between trace elements and oxidative stress in DM.