Microscopic changes in the liver, heart, and kidneys in alloxan diabetes rats

Abstract

To make future researches of the results of treatment of diabetes possible, it is necessary to create a model of this pathology in experimental animals. It is crucial to trace the correlation between changes in organs when this pathology occurs in clinical cases and when it occurs in experimental cases. Today we have a number of methods used to form alloxan diabetes in animals, but alloxan monohydrate is the most frequently used. Thus, the purpose of our study was to: study microscopic changes in the liver, heart, and kidneys of alloxan diabetes rats. The experimental model of diabetes was reproduced by a 150 mg/kg single-dose subcutaneous administration of alloxan monohydrate in the form of a 5% solution per citrate buffer (pH 4.5). To prove the development of diabetes, blood glucose levels were measured by a Rightest GM500 blood glucose meter on the 20th day after administration of alloxan. There were used animals with medium severity diabetes (fasting glucose test showings 10 to 20 mmol/l). The experimental animals were euthanized by ethereal anesthesia decapitation. Samples of the liver, heart, and kidneys for histological examination were taken on the 20th day after administration of alloxan. Histologic sections were prepared according to the standard method, coloring was made by hematoxylin and eosin and based on Van Gizon method. We have found that on the 20th day after the simulation of alloxan diabetes, the liver showed microscopic signs of hepatitis with dystrophic changes in hepatocytes and intracellular cholestasis. The kidneys showed destruction of all structural components of the glomeruli with subsequent necrosis and dystrophic changes and destruction of the epithelium of the curvy and straight tubules. The heart showed granular degeneration of cardiocytes, in some areas, and distinct swelling between the muscle fibers bundles and inside the muscle fibers bundles, infiltration of the connective tissue stroma by erythrocytes in others. We believe that it is possible to obtain the most optimal spectrum of signs peculiar for type 1 diabetes by administration of alloxan as evidenced by microscopic changes in organs. Further, this model of diabetes will be used to study the influence of cell transplantation upon the development of the disease.