I was searching for something else but this may help the FML member
whose ferret has diabetes although it does not seem to be a ferret
study and is in an early stage of study:

> J Pineal Res. 2007 Mar;42(2):203-9.
>
> Links
>Melatonin is more effective than taurine and 5-hydroxytryptophan
>against hyperglycemia-induced kidney-cortex tubules injury.
>
>Derlacz RA, Sliwinska M, Piekutowska A, Winiarska K, Drozak J, Bryla J.
>
>Department of Metabolic Regulation, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty
>of Biology, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland.
>
>The antioxidative effects of melatonin (Mel), 5-hydroxytryptophan
>(5-HTP) and taurine (TAU) on hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress
>was investigated in primary cultures of kidney-cortex tubule cells
>grown in metabolically and hormonally defined medium. In the presence
>of 30 mm glucose (hyperglycemic conditions), cell viability was
>decreased by about 35% in comparison with that estimated in the
>glucose-depleted medium probably as a result of induction of
>apoptosis, as concluded from: (i) chromatin condensation and DNA
>fragmentation assays, (ii) a significant enhancement of reactive
>oxygen species (ROS) production, (iii) 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine
>(8-OHdG) generation, (iv) an increased protein peroxidation and (v) a
>decline of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels leading to a disturbed
>glutathione redox state. The addition of 100 microm Mel to the
>hyperglycemic medium resulted in a twofold decrease in both 8-OHdG
>accumulation and protein peroxidation as well as restoration of the
>control intracellular ROS levels accompanied by a substantial increase
>in GSH/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio due to a decline in GSSG
>content. ROS elimination was also achieved in the presence of 1 mm
>TAU which diminished protein and DNA injuries by about 25% and 30%,
>respectively. On the contrary, the action of 100 microm 5-HTP on ROS
>level, 8-OHdG generation, protein peroxidation and GSH/GSSG ratio
>was negligible. Thus, in contrast to 5-HTP and TAU, Mel might be
>considered as beneficial for diabetes therapy, particularly in terms
>of reduction of hyperglycemia-induced kidney injury.
>
> PMID: 17286753 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 5690]