Ascorbic Acid Improves Vascular Permeability in Experimental-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: the most devastating manifestations of diabetesmell itus are vascular compl ications. although there are manyfactors involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy,many studies suggest a role for glucose-induced oxidativestress. studies in animal models, have demonstrated that theadministration of antioxidants restores normal endothelialfunctions. the study was designed to examine the possiblebeneficial effects of ascorbic ac id, wh ich have antioxidantproperties, on vascular permeability in the duodenum of ratswith streptozotocin-induced diabetes.methods: female adult rats were divided into two control andthree diabetic groups. diabetes was induced by a single injectionof streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, ip). one control and twodiabetic groups received ascorbic acid in drinking water (800mg/kg). diabetic groups received ascorbic acid either astherapeutic for 4 weeks, starting after the induction of diabetesor as combination therapy for 8 weeks starting 3-4 weeks beforethe induction of diabetes. vascular permeability was estimatedby measuring the extravasations of evans blue dyeand water content of duodenal tissue.results: as compared to the control group, diabetic animalssignificantly increased both evans blue extravasations and watercontent by 202%. ascorbic acid, used as treatment or in combinationtherapy, similarly restored these two variables to normal level.conclusion: the findings of this study suggest that ascorbicacid might have a role in restoring some dysfunctions ofexperimental diabetes.