Suppressive effect of agmatine on genetically programmed death of leukocytes in a diabetes model

Abstract

Effects of agmatine on different stages of apoptotic changes in leukocytes in experimentally induced diabetes mellitus (EDM) have been investigated. The number of leukocytes that showed signs of apoptosis, both early and late, was increased in diabetic animals. The content of fragmented DNA in the leukocytes of the sick animals was elevated, the apoptotic index increased, and the balance between the content of protein regulators of apoptosis (p53 and Bcl-2) was disrupted. Agmatine had a direct corrective effect on the apoptosis of leukocytes, since it normalized the levels of p53 and Bcl-2 proteins, reduced the apoptotic index, suppressed the degradation of nuclear DNA, and reduced the number of cells with early and late signs of apoptosis.