Fasting Blood Glucose In Rats Research Articles

Effect of Afghan Withania coagulans L. and Ferula assa-foetida L. extracts combination on Blood Glucose Level of Diabetic rats

Afghan medicinal plants are famous for their nutritional and pharmacological activities. Afghan people are using medicinal herbs alone or in combination for treatment of diseases. This study is designed to evaluate the effect of two Afghan medicinal plants, Withania Coagulans L. and Ferula Assa-foetida L. extracts combination on blood glucose level of diabetic rats. Rats became diabetic by a single dose administration of streptozotocin and treated with Withania Coagulans and Ferula Assa-foetida extracts either alone or in combination for 21 days. The initial and final body weight and fasting blood glucose of rats were determined. Results showed that treatment with both Withania Coagulans and Ferula Assa-foetida extracts over 21 days period leads to a considerable reduction in blood glucose level of diabetic rats. In addition, their combinations in different proportions also showed a notable anti-hyperglycemic effect on diabetic rats (P < 0.0001). The Withania Coagulans and Ferula Assa-foetida combinations formula effect was even better than each individual plants. As a result, combinations of Withania Coagulans and Ferula Assa-foetida extracts have a synergic effect on blood glucose level of diabetic rats.

Cornus officinalis prior and post-processing: Regulatory effects on intestinal flora of diabetic nephropathy rats.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common and serious chronic complications in the clinic. Cornus officinalis has the effects of replenishing qi and nourishing yin, tonifying liver and kidney, and it is one of the main traditional Chinese medicines used clinically to treat diabetes and its complications. However, the effect and mechanism of Cornus officinalis before and after processing on intestinal flora of diabetic nephropathy need to be further elucidated. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats) and DN groups (70 rats). After 4 weeks of high-sugar and high-fat diet, the DN rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into DN model group, irbesartan group (1.35 mg·kg−1), Cornus officinalis group (281.25 mg·kg−1), wine Cornus officinalis group (281.25 mg·kg−1), wine honey Cornus officinalis group (281.25 mg·kg−1), auxiliary wine group (10 ml·kg−1), auxiliary wine honey group (10 ml·kg−1). During the observation of the rats’ general state, after 6 weeks of continuous administration, the fasting blood glucose of rats in each group was detected, and the kidney index was calculated. The serum creatinine levels, urea nitrogen and 24 h urinary microalbumin were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of YKL-40, Wnt4, β-catenin and TGF-β 1 mRNA in renal tissue were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the changes in renal pathological injury in each group; GC-MS detected the changes of short chain fatty acid content. Feces were collected for 16 s high-throughput sequencing to analyze the effects of Cornus officinalis on the diversity of intestinal flora in DN before and after processing. Results: Compared with the blank group, the serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, 24 h urinary microalbumin, kidney index and fasting blood glucose in the DN model group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The renal tissue morphology was disordered and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated. The expression of YKL-40, Wnt4, β-catenin and TGF-β 1 mRNA was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with the DN model group, the serum creatinine, urea. Nitrogen, 24 h urine microalbumin, kidney index and fasting blood glucose of rats in each administration group were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and the general condition and pathological renal damage of DN rats were improved. The effect of wine honey Cornus officinalis was the best, and the expression of YKL-40, Wnt4, β-catenin and TGF-β 1 mRNA was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In each administration group, the improvement of the above indicators in the wine honey Cornus officinalis group was significantly better than that in the raw Cornus officinalis group and wine Cornus officinalis group (p < 0.05), There was no significant difference compared with the irbesartan group (p > 0.05). Each administration group had a significant callback effect on the content of short-chain fatty acids in rat feces, with increased intestinal beneficial bacteria and decreased pathogenic bacteria. Compared with the blank group, the abundance of Firmicutes in the DN model group increased, the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased, and the ratio showed an upward trend in the DN model group decreased. Each administration group could improve the relative abundance of the above intestinal flora in the model group to varying degrees. Conclusion: The processing of Cornus officinalis may improve the renal injury of DN rats by blocking the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, regulating the structural composition of intestinal microorganisms, and ultimately playing a role in renal protection.

Effects of the Oral Administration of Aqueous and Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Amaranthaceae) on Blood Glucose Levels in Wistar Rats.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that poses a major global health threat. The current diabetes mellitus uses insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents, which have limitations, including adverse effects and secondary failures. Herbal medicine is being evaluated for its role in the pharmacotherapy of diabetes. This study was aimed to assess the anti-diabetic potential and short-term toxicity level of Chenopodium ambrosioides collected from Bukavu in Democratic Republic of Congo.MethodsLeaves of C. ambrosioides were extracted by infusion and maceration with distilled water and 95% methanol, respectively. Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic potentials of the aqueous and methanolic were investigated in normoglycemic and intraperitoneal glucose-loaded rats at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight. An oral acute toxicity test was carried out on healthy female Wistar rats.ResultsAcute toxicity test showed the mean lethal dose (LD50) for both aqueous and methanol extracts of C. ambrosioides to be more than 2000 mg/kg. The group treated with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg b.w) and aqueous extract of the plant (200 mg/kg b.w) showed a significant reduction (p< 0.0001 and p< 0.05) of fasting blood glucose by 46.91% and 16.72%, respectively, compared to control and all other treatment groups. In acute conditions, a single oral administration of the aqueous and methanolic extracts lowered fasting blood glucose in rats. Any manifestation and signs of toxicity and mortality have been recorded for 14 days of observation.ConclusionLeaf aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. ambrosioides appeared safe at 2000 mg/kg. The plant demonstrated some anti-diabetic potential in rats, explaining its use as an anti-diabetic remedy locally.

Effect of 4 Weeks of Moderate-Intensity Endurance Exercise and Lithium Administration on Blood Glucose Level in STZ-Induced Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Mice

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term endurance exercise and lithium treatment on fasting blood glucose in rats with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).METHODS: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were induced with T1DM using streptozotocin (STZ) injection. They were then randomly assigned to five groups and treated for a total of 4 weeks. For lithium treatment, 10 mg/kg LiCl was orally administered once a day, 5 days a week, and endurance exercise was performed at 21 m/minutes for 60 minutes, 5 days a week. After four weeks of treatment, blood and the plantaris muscle were extracted under anesthesia, and blood glucose and biomolecular factors were analyzed.RESULTS: 4 weeks of moderate-intensity endurance exercise significantly reduced fasting blood glucose in T1DM mice, increased the expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle, and significantly decreased the expression of dynamin, a GLUT4 endocytosis-related factor. Endurance exercise significantly increased mitochondrial biosynthesis in the skeletal muscles and significantly reduced the expression of the MAPK family. However, no biochemical or physiological changes were associated with lithium alone or in combination.CONCLUSIONS: 4 weeks of moderate-intensity endurance exercise improves fasting blood sugar levels through positive changes in glycemic control factors in the skeletal muscle. However, lithium treatment has no resultant effect. These results are thought to have been influenced by the decrease in the expression of the MAPK family and the increase in mitochondrial biosynthesis by endurance exercise for 4 weeks. However, further research is required to establish a clear causal relationship.

Plasma proteomic analysis of diabetes improvement by vitamin D supplementation

To analyze the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the improvement of diabetes mellitus based on plasma proteomics. Five-week-old SPF spontaneously obese rats with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into a diabetic group and a diabetic vitamin D intervention group, and the control group was Zucker lean rats. The fasting blood glucose of the rats in each group was compared with that of the diabetic vitamin D group, and the plasma proteins of the rats in each group were compared by quantitative analysis of the high-resolution mass spectrometry system iTRAQ, and KEGG signaling pathway analysis was performed. The fasting blood glucose of rats in the diabetic vitamin D intervention group was significantly lower than that of the diabetic group, and the proteins that were differentially expressed in the diabetic vitamin D intervention group were significantly improved. KEGG signaling pathway analysis revealed that the differential proteins in the diabetic group were mainly distributed among enzymes, exosomal proteins, and peptidases and inhibitors, and that the number of differences in these three classes of proteins was significantly reduced in the diabetic intervention group. Vitamin D supplementation can improve the differential expression of fasting glucose and plasma proteins in the diabetic rats.

Effects of soy hull polysaccharide on dyslipidemia and pathoglycemia in rats induced by a high-fat-high-sucrose diet

The present work aimed at investigating the effects of soy hull polysaccharide (SHP) in alleviating adverse effects in rats fed a high-fat-high-sucrose diet. After SHP feeding for 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum triglyceride (TG), serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and 16S rDNA gene sequence were determined. Administration of SHP significantly decreased body fat content and TG levels, and increased water intake and HDL-C levels after 4 weeks of treatment. The antihyperglycemic effect of SHP at a dose of 400mg/kg mb had the most significant effects among the three dosage groups. SHP notably restored the FBG in rats fed a high-fat-high-sucrose diet (P<0.05). Furthermore, SHP at 400mg/kg mb increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreased that of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria at the phylum level. The polysaccharide treated groups had significantly higher content of total SCFAs, and the main fermentation products were acetic, propionic, n-valeric and i-valeric acids. Thus, SHP restores blood lipid levels in rats fed a high-fat-high sucrose diet through regulation of the gut microbiota.

The effects of Bushen Yiqi Huoxue prescription and its disassembled prescriptions on a diabetic retinopathy model in Sprague Dawley rats

BackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most serious complications in the late stages of diabetes, with a complex mechanism. As a complication affecting local lesions, few studies have compared differences of cytokine expression in the serum and retina. Owing to the specific value of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to complex diseases, TCM research has recently boomed in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Bushen Yiqi Huoxue (BYH) prescription is a Chinese herbal compound that has been independently developed by our research group and has been proved to have a positive effect on DR; however, its specific mechanism and compatibility rule remain to be further explored. ObjectiveTo construct a DR model of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, simultaneously detect multiple factor expression in the serum and retina of rats, explore the effect of BYH prescription and its disassembled prescriptions on DR, and discuss the influence of various compatibility combinations. MethodsBYH prescription was disassembled into two new compatibilities in the absence of Rehmanniae Radix (Yiqi Huoxue prescription, YH prescription) or Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Bushen Huoxue prescription, BH prescription). Male SD rats were induced using streptozotocin + high-fat and high-sugar diet to establish DR models and were divided into groups, then the intragastric administration and sampling. The body weight and fasting blood glucose of rats were continuously recorded during feeding; pathophysiological status observation of the retina by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level detection in the rat serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and the Luminex technique was used to detect the ICAM-1, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression concentrations in the retinal tissue and serum. ResultsThe results of blood glucose, body weight and HE staining proved that the model was successfully constructed, and the three combinations could reduce the retinal injury in DR rats. Serum AGEs and HbA1c levels of the model group increased compared with the control group (CG). Compared with the DR model group, only AGEs decreased in the BYH group, while the AGEs and HbA1c levels were significantly inhibited in the YH and BH groups, showing a significant correlation between the expression of AGEs and HbA1c in the serum of DR rats. In the serum of rats, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF concentrations in the DR model group increased, although no statistical difference was observed in the ICAM-1 data compared with the CG. Compared with the DR model group, the IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expression decreased in the BYH group. Moreover, the IL-6 and TNF-α expression decreased in the YH group and only the IL-6 expression decreased in the BH group. In the retina tissue, the model group had higher ICAM-1, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF levels than the CG. Compared with the DR model group, TNF-α in the BYH group rats decreased, and the ICAM-1, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations decreased in the YH and BH groups. Furthermore, differences in the ICAM-1 and VEGF expression in the serum and retina existed. ConclusionBYH compound and its disassembled prescriptions could improve the DR model rats induced with streptozotocin + high-fat and high-sugar diet, respectively, by inhibiting chronic blood glucose, AGEs, or inflammation response. The expression level and location of each factor are different, confirming that the effect of TCM prescriptions is not the simple addition of each single drug or its chemical components, but the rationality of its internal compatibility combination. Further, ICAM-1 and VEGF have exactly different expression levels, suggesting more attention to be paid by other researchers or doctors in future studies.

Astragalus polysaccharides protect renal function and affect the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

ObjectivesThe objective was to observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on diabetes and on regulation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.MethodsA type 2 diabetic rat model was established with a high-fat diet in combination with low-dose streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Astragalus polysaccharides were applied as treatment intervention and changes in blood glucose and kidney morphology and function were assessed.ResultsEight weeks after model establishment, kidney weight as a proportion of total weight (KW/TW) in the high-, medium-, and low-dose Astragalus polysaccharide groups was significantly lower than that in the model group, and the KW/TW value gradually decreased with increasing dose of polysaccharides in each treatment group. Fasting blood glucose in the low- and medium-dose Astragalus polysaccharide groups was numerically lower than that in the model group and fasting blood glucose in rats in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the model group. Levels of 24-hour urinary microalbumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, collagens I, III, and IV, α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-β1, and Smad3 in Astragalus polysaccharide groups (all doses) were significantly lower than those in the model group.ConclusionsAstragalus polysaccharide significantly improved blood glucose and protected kidney function in a rat diabetes model.

Extraction, purification, content analysis and hypoglycemic effect of mulberry marc anthocyanin

Background: Mulberry marc (MM) which as a wasted residue contains many available resources and one of the valuable nutrients is anthocyanin. In this study, the extraction, purification, content analysis, and hypoglycemic effect of anthocyanin from MM were studied. Materials and Methods: The total anthocyanin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside of the purified anthocyanin of mulberry marc (MMA) were determined using pH differential method and high-performance liquid chromatography. The hypoglycemic effects were studied by streptozotocin and high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetic rats. The rats were given MMA for 4 weeks and at the end of experiment; the blood was collected for determination serum indexes; the tissue of liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen was removed for weighting and observing pathological changes. Results: The content of total anthocyanin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside of MMA was 39.72% and 18.63%, respectively. The fasting blood glucose of rats in the MMA treatment groups was decreased. The lipid metabolites (triglycerides and total cholesterol) and malondialdehyde were decreased and superoxide dismutase was increased of type 2 diabetes rats after MMA treated; the pathological changes were alleviated in various degrees. Conclusion: The content of anthocyanin in mulberry marc is higher than mulberry juice, and the MMA has a good hypoglycemic effect.

Effects of ethanolic extract of Ferula gummosa oleo-resin in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Previous studies have shown that some plants in the genus of Ferula (Apiaceae) have antidiabetic effects. The present work was aimed to evaluate effects of Ferula gummosa oleo-resin in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups (n = 6): normal control, diabetic control, diabetic rats treated with insulin (3 IU/day), and diabetic rats treated with 100 or 400 mg/kg/day of an ethanolic extract of the oleo-resin. After 4 weeks, blood samples were collected for measuring fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine. In addition, levels of lipid peroxidation, thiol groups, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were evaluated in the liver and kidney. At the end of the fourth week, the level of FBG in rats treated with 100 mg/kg of the extract was lower than that in diabetic control rats (273 ± 39 mg/dL vs 471 ± 32 mg/dL). Administration of insulin and the extract had no significant effects on the serum lipids. Insulin and both doses of the extract significantly reduced the activity of ALT. In addition, the extract inhibited lipid peroxidation in the kidney and restored the elevated level of SOD in the liver and kidneys. Ferula gummosa oleo-resin has the potential to prevent or delay the complications of diabetes by inhibiting the progression of hyperglycemia and attenuating oxidative stress-induced damage in the liver and kidneys.

Effect of 3:7 ratio of Astragalus total saponins and Curcumin on the diabetic nephropathy rats model.

ObjectiveStudy the effect of the 3:7 ratio of Astragalus total saponins and Curcumin on the model of diabetic nephropathy rats, and explore its mechanisms.MethodsDiabetic nephropathy rats model was established by high-fat and high-sugar feed feeding combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection in sublingual vein. Measured fasting blood glucose of rats on the 10, 20 and 30th day, and measured urine protein content in urine of rats on 30th days. Two hours after the last administration, measured glycated serum protein (GSP), insulin antibody (IA), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), insulin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) in the serum and calculated the renal index of rat. Take the viscera of pancreas and kidney, and HE staining, so as to observe pathological changes.ResultAstragalus total saponins and Curcumin 3:7 compatibility each dose group can significantly reduce the diabetic nephropathy rats blood glucose of 30th days, significantly reduce the level of GSP, IA, TG, TC, LDL (P < 0.01), and reduce MDA levels with different degrees (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and significantly increase the level of insulin (P < 0.01), increase the level of HDL, SOD and GSH with different degrees (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05 or P > 0.05); Astragalus total saponins and Curcumin 3:7 compatibility each dose group also can decrease renal index, UN, and Cr levels with different degrees and improve the pathological changes of pancreatic tissue and kidney tissue in diabetic nephropathy rats with different degrees (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05 or P > 0.05).ConclusionThe 3:7 ratio of Astragalus total saponins and Curcumin can achieve the treatment and protection effects on diabetic nephropathy rats by improve the glycometableolism, insulin resistance, lipid metableolism, oxidative stress levels, and pathological changes.

EFFECTS OF EMODIN ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND BODY WEIGHT IN TYPE 1 DIABETIC RATS

Objectives: Objective of present study was to analyze the effect of emodin on blood glucose and body weight in rats with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A total of 45 healthy SD rats were selected followed by being adaptively fed for one week and then from them 15 rats were randomly selected out as the control group and the remaining 30 healthy SD rats were given intra peritoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish diabetic model with the control group receiving intra peritoneal injection of citrate buffer solution of same doses; At the fifth day, the rats were fasted for 6h and appropriately fed with water. Then the tail blood was collected to measure the fasting blood glucose of rats and this step was repeated 15 days after the injection of streptozotocin. Results: The diabetic rat model was established successfully when the blood glucose was detected to be no less than 16.9mmol/l; thirty diabetic model rats were randomly divided into diabetes group and emodin group with 15 cases in each group (n=15); 15 days later, the rats in diabetes group and control group were treated with intra gastric administration of PBS, 5ml/kg, and the rats in emodin group were given intra gastric administration of emodin suspension (8g/l), 5ml/kg. The changes of fasting blood glucose and body weight were observed and compared in three groups from the time point of before model establishment to fifth and fifteenth days after successful establishment of model. Conclusion: There was no significant difference among three groups in fasting blood glucose and body weight at the initial stage of establishing model; In diabetes group and emodin group, the rat’s body weight in T2 was significantly lower than that in T1 with the body weight decreasing more significantly in diabetes group (P<0.05), while the blood glucose in T2 was significantly higher than that in T1 with the blood glucose increasing more significantly in diabetes group (P<0.05). Emodin can relieve hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetic rats but has little influence on body weight. Peer Review History: Received 6 August 2017; Revised 8 September; Accepted 11 September, Available online 15 September 2017 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Sabah Hussien El-Ghaiesh, Tanta University, Egypt, s.ghaiesh@gmail.com Dr. Ali Abdullah A. Al-Mehdar, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Similar Articles: PLASMA FERRITIN AND HEPCIDIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Metformin ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in a rat model of low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The present study aimed to explore the renoprotective effect of metformin on diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rats. A rat model of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) was successfully induced via a high-fat diet combined with a single low-dose of streptozotocin. Metformin was administered intragastrically for 13 weeks, and fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-c, LDL-c, urinary and serum creatinine levels were subsequently examined at the end of administration. Renal function was determined after the treatment protocol. Expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were assessed via immunohistochemical analysis. Superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde content and glutathione peroxidase levels were assessed in kidney tissues using commercially available kits. The results of the present study demonstrated that metformin administration significantly decreased the levels of serum blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urinary albumin excretion and fasting blood glucose in rats with T2DN. Furthermore, TG, TC and LDL-c levels were significantly decreased following metformin treatment, whereas HDL-c was increased. Metformin treatment significantly increased SOD activity and significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels, as compared with the model group. It was also demonstrated that metformin administration significantly decreased the expression levels of TGF-β1 and attenuated the morphological changes associated with T2DN in rats. These data clearly demonstrated the renoprotective effects of metformin against the development and progression of T2DN in rats. The underlying mechanism of this protective effect may be associated with glycemic control, lipid metabolism, and anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions.

Influences of exendin-4 on the secretion function of islet beta cells from rats in the early stage of severe scald

Objective: To observe the secretion function changes of islet beta cells isolated from rats in the early stage of severe scald, and to explore the influence of them. Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into sham injury (SI) group, sham injury+ exendin-4 (SIE) group, scald (S) group, and scald+ exendin-4 (SE) group according to the random number table, with 9 rats in each group. Rats in groups S and SE were inflicted with 50% total body surface area full-thickness scald by a 12-s immersion of back and a 6-s immersion of abdomen in 94 ℃ hot water. Rats in groups SI and SIE were sham injured through immersion of back and abdomen in 37 ℃ warm water. Rats in groups S and SE were subcutaneously injected with exendin-4 (4 μg/kg) twice a day post injury, while rats in groups SI and SIE were subcutaneously injected with sterile water in the same volume. At post injury hour (PIH) 72, the following detections were performed. Eight rats of each group were respectively selected to measure level of fasting blood glucose with cutting-tail method, and to detect plasma level of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and serum level of insulin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The insulin resistant index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Six rats of each group were respectively selected for islet isolation. The isolated rat islets were stimulated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 2.8 or 16.7 mmol/L glucose, respectively. Insulin content in supernatant was detected by ELISA, and insulin secretion index was calculated with 6 samples in each group. The isolated islets from 3 rats of each group were selected for the observation of the super-structure of islet beta cells under transmission electron microscope. The number of docked granules in per 10 μm membrane of islet beta cells and the ratio of insulin vesicles to the total insulin granules were calculated with 3 samples in each group. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test. Results: (1) Compared with that in group S, levels of fasting blood glucose of rats in group SI, SIE, and SE were significantly decreased (P 0.05). Under stimulation of 16.7 mmol/L glucose, compared with that in group SI, the insulin secretion content of rats in groups SIE and SE were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while in group S it was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that in group SE, the insulin secretion content of rats in group S was significantly decreased (P<0.01) . Compared with that in group S, the insulin secretion content of rats in group SE was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with that in group SI (2.25±0.20), the insulin secretion index of rats in group SE (2.68±0.24) was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with that in group SIE (2.47±0.18), the insulin secretion index of rats in group S (2.11±0.28) was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that in group S, the insulin secretion index of rats in group SE was significantly increased (P<0.01). (4) Compared with those in group SI, the number of docked granules per 10 μm membrane of islet beta cells in group SE was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the ratio of insulin vesicles of rat islet beta cells in group S was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with those in group SE, the number of docked granules per 10 μm membrane of islet beta cells in group S was significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the ratio of insulin vesicles of rat islet beta cells was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with those in group S, the number of docked granules per 10 μm membrane of islet beta cells in group SE was significantly increased (P<0.01), while the ratio of insulin vesicles of rat islet beta cells was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions: In the early stage of severe scald in rats, level of GLP-1 is decreased and the insulin secretion function of islet beta cells is injured. Long-lasting GLP-1 analogous exendin-4 can improve the secretion function of isolated islet beta cells from severely scalded rats.

Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on serum lipids and glycaemic control in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats

Objective: To determine the possible effects of aqeous extract of Moringa oleifera on blood glucose and lipid profile in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats. Materials and Methods: Forty four (44) adult healthy Albino rats of both sexes divided into three groups (A=23, B=10 and C=11)were used for this study; they were kept under standard conditions in the Animal House of the Department of Biomedical Sciences of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria. Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats in groups A and B with 5-day of alloxan administered intraperitoneally. Only rats in group A were given aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera for a period of nine days. Body weight and fasting blood glucose were checked at 5 th and 14 th day of the experiment. Parameters of lipid profile were determined in rats at day 14. Results: Average fasting blood sugar for groups A, B and C were observed to be 10.10mmol/l, 9.84mmol/l and 4.23mmol/l respectively at day 5. There was a reduction in fasting blood glucose in rats in groups A and C while there was an increase in fasting blood glucose in rats in group B when checked at day 14. Rats in group B (alloxan induced DM without Moringa oleifera supplement) had lowest value of HDL-Chol while their values of LDL-Chol, TC-Chol and Tg were the highest. There was significant lower value of HDL-Chol in group B than rats in Group A (p<0.05) and rats in group C (p<0,05). Conclusion: There was a hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera. It also has capacity to ameliorate dyslipidaemia in diabetic rats.

A Nonhypoglycemic Chlorpropamide Analog that Inhibits Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

Chlorpropamide (CP), a sulfonylurea-type oral hypoglycemic agent, is known to provoke a flushing reaction reminiscent of the disulfiram-ethanol reaction in certain individuals. This is manifested in rodents by an increase in blood acetaldehyde levels after ethanol administration. When the sulfonamide N1-nitrogen of CP was substituted with an ethyl group, the product, N1-ethylchlorpropamide, was found to be three times as active as CP in raising ethanol-derived blood acetaldehyde. However, whereas CP lowered fasting blood glucose in rats measured over 6 h, N1-ethylchlorpropamide was devoid of hypoglycemic activity, suggesting that the latter might be potentially useful as an alcohol deterrent agent.