[Protective effect on nephropathy and on cataract in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat of the vanadium-lazaroid combination].

Experimental work from our laboratory has confirmed the protective power of vanadium compounds on hyperglycemia and glycosuria in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetes. Furthermore, the diabetic cataract too has been partially prevented. The protection slightly increased, when vanadium was administered in combination with vitamin E. This investigation has introduced a combination of Na3VO4 plus the lazaroid U-83836E, a liposoluble antioxidant much more efficacious than tocopherol, in order to improve the insufficient protection when vitamin E was used. Male Wistar rats, rendered diabetic with STZ, were treated for 12 weeks with Na3VO4 in drinking water, U-83836E carried by the food, or both. The most significant metabolic parameters (food and fluid intake, diuresis and excreted feces) were studied monthly by means of metabolic cages. Body weight, glycemia, glycosuria and proteinuria were also recorded. At week 6 and 12 of the treatment, the opaqueness of the eye lenses was controlled. Circulation glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fructosamine, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and fluorescent peroxides were evaluated at the end of the experiment. After the first month of treatment U-83836E improved significantly the protective effect of vanadate alone on polydipsia and polyuria, but more efficiently on hyperglycemia and glycosuria. The further ameliorating effect of the lazaroid was observed also on HbA1c, NAG and, most important, on the cataract. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the lazaroid U-83836E succeeds in further protecting the most important symptoms of diabetes treated with vanadate, and that this antioxidant acts effectively even when it is administered per os, in a non invasive manner.