Effect of α-lipoic acid and APG on blood parameters

The elderly persons are a high-risk group for the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). Both aging and DM can influence hematological parameters related to key physiological and pathological processes. The additive effect of aging and diabetes may exacerbate alterations in general blood counts, thus leading to more pronounced hematological changes and an increased risk of complications. To mitigate pathological processes associated with DM, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs are widely utilized. However, the effects of certain compounds, such as alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and sodium aminodihydrophthalazinedione (APG), on blood parameters remain scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of ALA and APG on biochemical and hematological parameters in aged rats with alloxan-induced DM. The study was conducted in 35 male Wistar rats, which were divided into five groups: 1 – young (5 mo) intact animals, 2 – aged (18 mo) intact animals, 3 – aged rats with DM, 4 – aged rats with DM treated with ALA, 5 – aged rats with DM treated with APG. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan. ALA was administered daily intramuscularly to diabetic animals at a dose of 4 mg/100 g of body weight for 30 days. APG was administered intramuscularly at a dose of 2 mg/100 g of body weight at the following regimen: daily for 10 days, daily for the next 5 days, and every 3^rd day for the remaining 15 days. On day 60, blood samples were collected to assess glycemic levels and hematological parameters. Biochemical analysis revealed that both ALA and APG administration corrected metabolic disturbances in diabetic rats in similar manner, significantly reducing blood glucose levels. Hematological analysis showed an age-associated increase in size scatter of red blood cell (RBC). Administration of ALA led to an increase in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular Hb, but a decrease in mean corpuscular Hb concentration. In contrast, APG significantly increased RBC counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit. Both agents significantly reduced the relative lymphocyte count and increased the relative granulocyte count. ALA and APG also reduced total platelet count, mean platelet volume, and size scatter of platelets, while increasing the ‘plateletcrit’. Administration of both ALA and APG alleviated hyperglycemia in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels. Both compounds exerted similar effects upon white blood cell and platelet parameters, however, they differed in their ability to correct RBC indices in diabetic rats.