Metformin is a biguanide derivate used as an oral hypoglycaemic drug in diabetics. The aim of this study was to examine the histological and biochemical effects of metformin in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. The animals were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg STZ. Fourteen days later, metformin was given at 25 mg/kg by gavage, daily for 28 days, to STZdiabetic rats and a control group. In the STZ-diabetic group, some degenerative changes were observed by light microscopic examination. But the degenerative changes were decreased in the STZ-diabetic group given metformin. In the STZ-diabetic group, blood glucose levels, serum alanine and aspartate transaminase (ALT and AST) activities, total lipid levels, and sodium and potassium levels increased, while body weight, serum magnesium levels and liver glutathione (GSH) levels decreased. In the STZ-diabetic group given metformin, blood glucose levels, serum ALT and AST activities, total lipid, and sodium and potassium levels decreased, and liver GSH and serum magnesium levels increased. As a result of all the morphological and biochemical findings obtained, it was concluded that metformin has a protective effect against the hepatotoxicity produced by STZ diabetes.

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Oxidative stress plays an important role in chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, and hence the regulation of free radicals is essential in the treatment of diabetes. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of glurenorm (10 mg/kg) on liver tissue in experimental diabetes. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin. Glurenorm was administered to one diabetic and one control group separately, from days 14 to 42. On day 42, cardiac blood samples and liver tissue were taken from each rat. In diabetic rats, blood glucose, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum amino transferase activities, serum uric acid, serum sodium and potassium levels, liver nonenzymatic glycosylation, and lipid peroxidation increased, whereas body weight and liver glutathione levels decreased. The diabetic group given glurenorm blood glucose, serum alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferase activities, serum uric acid, sodium and potassium, liver nonenzymatic glycosylation, and lipid peroxidation levels decreased, and liver glutathione levels increased. As a result of all the biochemical findings obtained, it was concluded that glurenorm has a protective effect on damage of liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Selenium content of 1028 milk and milk products of Turkey are presented in this study. The selenium content of human milk (colostrum, transitional, and mature milk), various kinds of milk [cow, sheep, goat, buffalo, paper boxes (3%, 1.5%, 0.012% fat), bottled milk, condensed milk (10% fat), mineral added milk (1.6%), and banana, strawberry, and chocolate milk] and milk products (kefir, yogurt, Ayran, various cheese, coffee cream, ice cream, butter, margarine, milk powder, and fruit yogurt) in Turkey were determined by a spectrofluorometric method. The selenium levels of cow milks collected from 57 cities in Turkey were also determined. Selenium levels in cow milk varied with geographical location in Turkey and were found to be lowest for Van and highest for Aksaray. The results [milk (cow, sheep, goat, buffalo and human) and milks products] were compared with literature data from different countries.

The total selenium levels of 335 water samples of Turkey were determined by a spectrofluorometric method. The samples were digested in nitric-perchloric acid mixture, potential interferences were masked with disodium EDTA-HONH2.HCl and selenium was complexed with freshly prepared 2,3-diaminonaphthalene solution and estimated spectrofluorometrically after extraction in cyclohexane. The selenium content of various waters (rain, tap, mineral, sea, lake, river, bottled drinking waters and collected drinking waters from 42 cities in Turkey) were determined. The selenium levels were compared with the literature data from different countries.