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. 2023 Feb 28;78(1):459-463.
doi: 10.22092/ARI.2022.359289.2394. eCollection 2023 Feb.

The Effects of Metformin Treatment on Diabetic Albino Rats' Pancreas, Liver, and Kidney Histology

R S Almuttairi  1
Affiliations

The Effects of Metformin Treatment on Diabetic Albino Rats' Pancreas, Liver, and Kidney Histology

R S Almuttairi. Arch Razi Inst. .

Abstract

Metformin, an oral hypoglycemic drug, has traditionally been considered the standard therapy for hyperglycemia. Metformin's several modes of action include inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, anti-glucagon activity, and insulin-sensitizing effect. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of Metformin on the liver, pancreatic, and kidney tissues of alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Twenty mature albino white male rats were allocated at random into two groups. Intraperitoneal injections of alloxan monohydrate were utilised to induce diabetic Mellitus type II in the first ten rats. The second group of rats were injected intraperitoneally with normal saline. Both groups were then separated into four subgroups: Group 1 consisted of non-diabetic rats that were only administered distilled water (control), Group 2 consisted of non-diabetic rats that were administered metformin at a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day, and Group 3 consisted of diabetic control animals that were administered alloxan intravenously and distilled water orally, but were not given any medications. After seven days of DM induction, diabetic rats were administered Metformin at a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day orally. After one month of therapy, the animals were slaughtered and their organs were harvested. Compared to the control group, the histological results of pancreatic tissue were normal in the treatment groups. In contrast, liver and kidney sections from non-diabetic control, non-diabetic, and diabetic animals given 1000 mg/kg/day of Metformin had normal histology. Still, both tissues of untreated diabetic control mice exhibited lymphocyte infiltration. Metformin has been found to have significant blood glucose lowering properties and the capacity to protect several organs from the negative consequences of diabetes.

Keywords: Albino rats; Alloxan-induced; Kidney; Liver; Metformin; Pancreas.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cross-section of the pancreas showing normal histology in all of A: non-diabetic rats (control group), B: non-diabetic rats treated with Metformin 1000 mg/kg/day, C: diabetic rats, D: diabetic rats treated with Metformin 1000mg/kg/day, Stained with H&E 400×
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cross-section of the liver of A: non-diabetic control rats showing normal histology, B: non-diabetic rats treated with Metformin 1000 mg/kg/day showing normal histology, C: diabetic rats showing lymphocyte infiltration (black arrow), D: diabetic rats treated with Metformin 1000mg/kg/day showing normal histomorphology, stained with H&E 400×
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cross histological section of the kidney of A: non-diabetic control rats showing normal histology with typical structure, B: non-diabetic rats receiving metformin 1000 mg/kg/day showing normal histology, C: diabetic rats showing lymphocyte infiltration (black arrow), D: diabetic rats were given Metformin 1000mg/kg/day showing normal histology, stained with H&E 400×
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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