Aim: To find the association between purine metabolites and diabetic complications in rats.
Materials and methods: Alloxan was administered to induce diabetes in rats. After 30 days, the levels of uric acid, inosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine and AMP were assessed in both plasma and liver tissues using HPLC technique.
Results: A significant increase in xanthine, hypoxanthine, AMP levels (p < .001 and t-value 2.78) and inosine in plasma and liver tissues (p < .05 and t-value 2.11) with a concomitant increase in uric acid levels (p < .001 and t-value 2.80) was observed in diabetic group.
Conclusion: Purine metabolites like uric acid and other intermediate products of purine metabolism are increased in diabetes. These results can be used in addition or separately in evaluating the progression of diabetes.
Keywords: Purine metabolites; alloxan; diabetes; hypoxanthine; xanthine.