The effects of dexpanthenol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: histological, histochemical and immunological evidences.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Dexpanthenol (Dxp) on liver and pancreas histology and cytokine levels in streptozotocine (STZ)induced diabetic rats. Twenty-four Wistar albino male rats were divided into four groups: control, Dxp, STZ-induced diabetic (STZ) and diabetic treatment with Dexpanthenol (STZ- Dxp) groups. Experimental diabetes was induced by single dose STZ (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.). After administration of STZ, the STZ- Dxp group began to receive a 300 mg/kg/day i.p. dose of Dxp for 6 weeks. Liver and pancreas tissues of the control group were in normal morphology. Liver tissue of STZ group showed vacuolisation of hepatocytes in the liver parenchyma with enlargement of sinusoidal spaces and increasing amounts of connective tissue in the portal area. Pancreatic section of STZ group displayed beta-cells with of cytoplasmic mass, reduction of islet size, and atrophy. The STZ-Dxp group that received Dxp treatment exhibit partially normal hepatic parenchyma. Histochemical examinations revealed that the diabetes-induced glycogen depletion markedly improved with the Dxp treatment (p<0.001). The severity of degenerative alteration was lessened by Dxp supplementation in the STZ-Dxp group. Induction of STZ presented a significant increase both in interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) (p=0.033) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) (p=0.011) levels, when compared with the control rats. DXP-treated diabetic rats' IL-1 alpha and MCP-1 levels were similar to control value. This evidence suggests that Dxp is effective in reducing STZ-induced, diabetic-related complications and may be beneficial for the treatment of diabetic patients.