Melatonin ameliorates the adrenal and pancreatic alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: Clinical, biochemical, and descriptive histopathological studies

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of melatonin in diabetic rats. However, limited studies have been conducted on the potential effects of melatonin on the descriptive histopathological and morphometric findings in different compartments of the adrenal glands in diabetic animal models. In this study, using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model, we sought to examine histological alterations in the pancreas and adrenal glands and observe the effect of the administration of melatonin on the histopathology and morphology of the pancreas and the adrenal gland cortex and medulla that are altered by STZ-induced hyperglycemia. Rats were randomly assigned to four different groups: Group I, normal control; Group II, melatonin group (MT) (10 mg/kg/day); Group III, (diabetic STZ group), and Group IV, diabetic (STZ) + melatonin group (MT). Throughout the experiment, the animals' fasting blood sugar levels were measured. Blood was obtained to determine the animals' cumulative blood sugar levels after sacrification. For histological and morphometrical evaluations, the pancreatic and adrenal gland tissues were dissected and processed. Our results showed that diabetic rats receiving melatonin significantly (P < 0.05) improved their fasting blood sugar and cumulative blood sugar levels compared to the diabetic group not receiving melatonin. Furthermore, histopathological examinations of the pancreatic and adrenal tissues of the diabetic rats indicated the occurrence of severe histopathological and morphometric changes. Morphometric analysis of the adrenals indicated a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the thickness of the cortex zones [zona glomerulosa (ZG), zona fasciculata (ZF), and zona reticularis (ZR)] for the diabetic STZ group compared with other groups, and a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the diameter of the in adrenal gland medullas in the diabetic STZ rats compared to the other groups. Furthermore, treatment with melatonin restored these changes in both the pancreatic and adrenal gland tissues and produced a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the cortex and medulla thickness compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Overall, melatonin significantly reduced the hyperglycemic levels of glucose in diabetic rats and reversed the majority of histopathological alterations in the tissues of the pancreas and adrenals, demonstrating its anti-diabetic activity.

Pre-clinical Study of Marketed Polyherbal Formulations on Blood Glucose Level and Associated Parameters in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes

“…The development of DM symptoms is also influenced by the adrenal gland. 13,14 In our research, at the fifth week, the diabetic group receiving formulation A and B treatment had considerably lower SGOT and SGPT values than the diabetic group receiving no treatment. It is an indication that the hepatoprotective nature has improved and that the damage to the liver has been corrected.…”

Vitamin D supplementation alleviates insulin resistance in prediabetic rats by modifying IRS-1 and PPARγ/NF-κB expressions

“…Our findings were supported by histological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining, which revealed a decrease in Langerhans islets as well as fatty pancreatic acinar cell atrophy while increasing the number of fatty acinar cells. For the histopathology analysis, we utilized the same strategy as earlier research that effectively reported pancreatic histology ( 37 ). The morphological differences between the negative and positive control groups, as well as the treatment group, were clearly visible using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.…”

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] improved blood glucose and restored histopathological alterations in splenic tissues in a rat model with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes through CD8+ T cells and NF-kβ expression

“…As previously described (34,35), diabetes was established by intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg of streptozotocin (0.1 M cold citrate buffer, pH 4.5). The rats were allowed free access to food and water after the injection and were instructed to drink a 15% glucose solution all night long to prevent hypoglycemia.…”

“…A total of 10 slides from each group were examined under low-power objective and chosen to measure the thickness of the splenic capsule using ImageJ software (34,35). Organ histology analysis was performed, and scores were assigned based on the severity of damage seen in the analyzed tissue in each group, as previously established: 0 = no lesions; 1 = mild (1 to 25%); 2 = moderate (26 to 45%); and 3 = severe (>45%) (44,45).…”