Background and purpose: Diabetes is a health problem worldwide with increasing prevalence in most countries. Nephropathy is a common microvascular complication of diabetes. Diabetes is directly associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage that result in renal tissue damage. This study evaluated the efficiency of nanoceria in attenuation of oxidative damage in renal isolated mitochondria of STZ-induced diabetes mice.

Materials and methods: In an experimental study, the mice were divided into five groups (n=6 per group). Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozocin (65mg/kg body wt, IP) and the mice with glucose concentrations exceeding 200 mg/dl were considered diabetic and were treated with nanoceria and vit E for 4 weeks. Afterwards, the animals were anaesthetized and kidney tissues were excised at 4°C and mitochondrial fraction was separated by different centrifuge technique. Finally, oxidative stress markers including measuring glutathione (GSH) content, lipid peroxidation (LPO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MTT test were assayed in isolated kidney mitochondria.

Results: The level of GSH and mitochondrial function significantly decreased in diabetic mice compared to those in control group (P<0.05). Also, significant increase in LPO and ROS formation were observed (P<0.05) in the renal mitochondria of diabetic mice that decreased significantly after nanoceria administration (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings showed the protective effects of nanoceria against renal mitochondria damage. Therefore, it could be used as a complementary therapy alongside other blood glucose-lowering drugs to reduce the rate of complications resulting from diabetes.