Diabetes (DM), a major health problem worldwide, is associated with the loss of β cells in the pancreatic islets and decreased insulin secretion. Hydroxytyrosol (HxT) is a phenol found in high concentrations in olive oil. Spexin (SPX) plays a role in the regulating of many metabolisms such as glucose and energy. This study aimed to determine the effects of HxT on circulating insulin levels, histopathological changes in pancreatic islets, and SPX immunoreactivity in a Streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes model (eDM) in rats.
The 32 rats used in the study were randomly divided into 4 groups (n: 8): Control, eDM, eDM+HxT, and HxT. After completing all applications in the experiment, the blood and pancreas tissues of the sacrificed rats were taken. Insulin levels were determined from the serum samples obtained. Histopathological changes and SPX immunoreactivities were evaluated in pancreatic tissues.
While serum insulin levels decreased in eDM, histopathological changes in pancreatic islets increased. Additionally, SPX immunoreactivity in pancreatic islets was significantly reduced in eDM. On the other hand, HxT supplementation (eDM+HxT group) was able to regulate eDM-related adverse effects.
HxT supplementation may have a curative and therapeutic effect on DM. SPX may be effective in regulating endocrine functions of the pancreas.