Antioxidant and antiplatelet effects of the alpha-tocopherol-aspirin combination in type 1-like diabetic rats

We analyze the effect of the combination of acetylsalicylic acid (2 mg/kg/day p.o.) and alpha-tocopherol (25 mg/kg/day p.o.) in a type-1-like experimental model of diabetes mellitus on platelet factors, endothelial antithrombotic factors and tissue oxidative stress. In diabetic rats, the combination of drugs had a greater inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation than in untreated control animals with diabetes (88.87%). The combination of drugs had little effect on the inhibition of thromboxane production (− 90.81%) in comparison to acetylsalicylic acid alone (− 84.66%), potentiated prostacyclin production (+ 162%) in comparison to alpha-tocopherol alone (+ 30.55%), and potentiated nitric oxide production (+ 241%) in comparison to either drug alone (acetylsalicylic acid + 125%, alpha-tocopherol + 142%). The combination of the two drugs improved the thromboxane/prostacyclin balance (0.145 ± 0.009) in comparison to untreated diabetic animals (4.221 ± 0.264) and in untreated healthy animals (0.651 ± 0.045). It did not potentiate the antioxidant effect of either drug alone, but did increase tissue concentrations of reduced glutathione, especially in vascular tissue (+ 90.09% in comparison to untreated animals). In conclusion, in the experimental model of diabetes tested here, the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and alpha-tocopherol led to beneficial changes that can help protect tissues from thrombotic and ischemic phenomena.