Objective: 

The present study aims to demonstrate the effects of zinc supplementation on brain tissue damage in diabetic rats subjected to acute swimming exercise.

Methods: 

The study included 80 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats which were equally divided into 8 groups: Group 1, general control; Group 2, zinc-supplemented control; Group 3, zinc-supplemented diabetic control; Group 4, swimming control; Group 5, zinc-supplemented swimming; Group 6, zinc-supplemented diabetic swimming; Group 7, diabetic swimming; Group 8, diabetic control group. In order to induce diabetes, the experimental animals were injected with 40 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) streptozotocin (STZ) "Sigma, S-0130". The injections were repeated at the same dose after 24 hours. The animals with blood glucose level 300 mg/dlt and above 6 days after the last injection were considered as diabetic. These animals were supplemented with 6 mg/kg/day ip zinc sulfate for 4 weeks. Levels of MDA (nmol/gram/protein) and GSH (mg/dl/gram protein) were determined in the brain tissue samples of rats decapitated at the end of the 4-week study.

Results: 

The highest MDA values in brain tissue were obtained in groups 7 and 8. MDA levels in Group 4 were lower than those in groups 7 and 8, but higher than the levels in all other groups. Groups 3, 5 and 6 had MDA levels lower than groups 4, 7 and 8. Groups 4, 5 and 6 had the highest brain GSH values. The lowest GSH levels in brain tissue were found in groups 7 and 8.

Conclusions: 

Results of this study demonstrate that lipid peroxidation in the brain tissue caused by forced swimming exercise in diabetic rats can be prevented by zinc sulfate supplementation.