Abstract: The present study was aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of β-casomorphin -7 in small intestine mucosa in diabetic rats. A total of 43 male SD rats were used for this stud and were divided into two groups of control (n = 8) and hyperglycemia group (n = 35). The hyperglycemia rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into three groups: positive control rats, high dose β-CM-7 treated diabetic rats, and low dose β-CM-7 treated diabetic rats. On the last day of treatment, the animals were deprived of food overnight and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood was collected at the presence of anticoagulant and the small intestine mucosa was obtained. The MDA level and the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT of small intestine mucosa were measured. The results showed after 30 days oral administration of β-casomorphin -7, the activity of Na+- K+-ATPase was markedly increased compared with positive control rats. Oral administration of high or low does of β-CM-7 to diabetic rats showed an increase in the activity of SOD, and GSH-Px, and low does also showed the reducing function on the elevated MDA level in diabetic rats. Thus the results of the present study suggest that β -casomorphin -7 can decrease the oxidative stress in small intestine mucosa in diabetic rats by elevating the activity of enzymatic antioxidants including SOD and GSH-Px.

Key words: hyperglycemia, small intestine mucosa, Na+-K+-ATPase, oxidative stress