We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
COMPARATIVE ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF PANCREATIC BETA CELLS FROM DIABETIC RATS TREATED WITH FENUGREEK SEED FLOUR OR GANODERMA FLOUR.
- Authors
Pribac, G.; Craciun, C.; Szoke-Nagy, T.; Simeoni, Iuliana; Lang, Camelia; Rosioru, Corina; Czapar, Maria; Mathe, E.; Mos, Liana; Ardelean, A.
- Abstract
Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds are widely used as a flavour in the oriental cuisine, and also as a nutritional supplement with hypoglycemiant action, of a high interest in the treatment of type II diabetes. Ganoderma lucidum (the lingzhi or reishi mushroom) has been used for centuries in the oriental herbal medicine, because of its anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, cholesterol- and blood sugarlowering properties. We report here certain preliminary data of a comparative ultrastructural study in which rats were made diabetic with alloxan or streptozotocin, and subsequently treated with fenugreek or ganoderma flour. Adult male Wistar rats, weighing 200±20 g, were made diabetic with i.p. injection of a single dose of alloxan (200 mg/kg body weight, in PBS) or streptozotocin (170 mg/kg body weight, in sodium citrate 10 mM). 30 min. after the diabetogenic agent, the animals received i.p. 1 ml of a 33% glucose saline solution, to avoid hypoglycemic shock. Animals were checked for blood glucose concentration in the third and fifth day after injection. Only rats with a glycemia > 200 mg/dL were considered diabetic and were included in the experiment. Animals were organized in six groups; the control (C), untreated group, the alloxan-diabetic (AD) group, and the streptozotocin-diabetic group (SD) received a standard diet and water ad libitum. Other three groups received the standard diet supplemented with fenugreek or ganoderma flour, as follows: AD-T5 and AD-T10 groups had 5% and 10%, respectively fenugreek seed flour in the fodder, while AD-G group had 1‰ ganoderma flour in the fodder. After 30 days, the animals were sacrificed and pancreas samples were taken for ultrastructural examination. In the beta cells of alloxan-diabetic rats, we noticed only few secretory granules, most of which were empty, as the synthesis of proinsulin and insulin was inhibited. Other cells had numerous vacuolization areas in the cytoplasm, with almost no insulin granules; the nuclei were irregular in shape and had a dilated perinuclear space. Some cells showed electrondense cytoplasm and a hyperchromatic nucleus, which suggest a low metabolic activity. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes produced severe alteration of beta cells, with vacuolization and lysis of the entire cytoplasm and the absence of insulin granules. Pancreatic islets showed advanced fibrosis which originated in the surrounding capsule, with collagen fascicles that intruded among cells, isolating and, in some areas, destroying them. There was a massive lipid droplets proliferation, probably due to the progressive transformation in fat cells of some fibroblasts that migrated inside the islets. In the AD-T5 group, we noted a more than moderate protection of fenugreek against the alloxan-induced beta cell destruction. Active Golgi complexes were noticed. However, some cells were entirely electrondense and had hyperchromatic nuclei. The protective action of fenugreek was even more evident in the pancreas of AD-T10 rats. Numerous granules, both mature and immature, were seen in the cytoplasm of beta cells. The destructive effect of alloxan was still present, as dilations of GER and of the perinuclear space, and some nuclei with irregular outline or abnormal shape. In the pancreatic islets of ganoderma-treated AD rats, most of the cells had an ultrastructure close to the one in the control animals. Cells had numerous insulin granules in the cytoplasm; GER, mitochondria and the Golgi complex were active and with a normal shape. There were no collagen infiltrations or lipid droplet proliferation. Alloxan was less efficient than expected in inducing experimental diabetes, while streptozotocin destroyed most of the beta cells and stopped insulin secretion. The highest protective effect against structural alteration of cells in AD rats was produced by treatments with 10% fenugreek and ganoderma.
- Subjects
PANCREATIC beta cells; TRIGONELLA; GANODERMA lucidum; LABORATORY rats; TYPE 2 diabetes treatment; BLOOD sugar analysis; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Annals of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology, 2011, Vol 16, Issue 1, p62
- ISSN
2067-3019
- Publication type
Article