Progesterone and Cilostazol Protect mice pancreatic islets from oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide

Reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress impair β-cell function and reduce insulin secretion. It has been shown that progesterone and cilostazol possess antioxidant properties. The present study was aimed to investigate in vitro pretreatment effect of progesterone and cilostazol on insulin secretion as well as their protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in pancreatic isolated islets from mouse. Pancreatic islets were isolated from 84 male NMRI mice (25–30g) by collagenase digestion method and pretreated for 48h with cilostazol (10 μM), progesterone (0.5 µM) and glibenclamide (10 μM) in culture medium. Then islets were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2. 500 μM) for 2h. Next, culture mediums containing glucose concentration of 2.8 mM or 16.7 mM were added to them and incubated in this status for 1h. At the end, the rate of insulin out¬put from islets, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activities in islet tissues were assayed. Exposure of islets to H2O2, resulted in a significant decrease in insulin secretion, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (P<0.001). Also islets malondialdehyde levels were increased by H2O2, after addition of 2.8mM (P<0.05) and 16.7mM (P<0.001) glucose. 48h pretreatment of islets with cilostazol and progesterone, significantly reverted back this changes (P<0.05). Results of present study showed that cilostazol and progesterone protect mice pancreatic islets against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. At the end, our results suggested that protective effects of progesterone and cilostazol are mediated by augmentation the antioxidant defence system of islets.