Abstract
Background: Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders caused by lack of, or reduced insulin action leading to increase in blood glucose level and metabolic disorders in the body. Diabetes causes severe degeneration within the cells of adrenal cortex. Barley grain is known to be beneficial in regulating sugar, insulin, and cholesterol responses to foods. However, studies about its effect on the structure of adrenal cortex in diabetes are limited.Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the possible protective effect of barley grain on the histological changes within the adrenal cortex in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in adult male albino rats.Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were used in the study. They were divided into four groups of ten each: group I was the control group; group II received barley grain extract intragastrically; group III included rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes; and group IV received barley green extract after inducing diabetes. After 12 weeks, Rats were sacrificed by using ether anesthesia. Blood plasma was collected for hormonal analysis then adrenal tissue was used for histological and immunohistochemical studies.Results: STZ-induced diabetes resulted in a significant decrease in body weight and serum aldosterone and corticostrione levels and significant increase in adrenal weight. The cells of adrenal cortex appeared disorganized. Their nuclei appeared pyknotic with vacuolated cytoplasm. The blood sinusoids in-between the cells of adrenal cortex appeared dilated and congested. Distorted smooth endoplasmic reticulum and degenerated (mouse- bitten) mitochondria were also detected within the cells. Administration of barley grain after induction of diabetes led to amelioration of these changes.Conclusion: Barley grain extract administration improved the histological and biochemical changes induced by diabetes in adrenal cortex.
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