Effect of Humulin (Insulin) on the Pancreas of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Abstract

Several substances including orthodox pharmacological agents and traditional herbs have been employed in the management of diabetes. In this study the effect of humulin (insulin) on the pancreas of streptozocin induced diabetic Wistar rats was investigated. Twenty-four (24) albino rats were divided equally into 3 groups A (Normal control), B (Diabetic control), and C (Diabetic rats treated with Humulin). Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin. Humulin was administered subcutaneously daily at a dosage of 5 iu/kg bw to rats in group C while Groups A and B rats received placebo for 28 days. At the end of the experiment the animals were sacrificed under chloroform vapour. The pancreas was collected for histological studies and serum for blood glucose assay. Results showed a significant weight loss (p<0.05) among group B animals and a significant weight gain (p<0.05) in the group C animals compared to the normal control group. Also the glucose levels of the group B animals was significantly higher (p<0.05) than group A while that of group C was significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared to group B. Histologically, the pancreatic islets of group B animals was distorted with shrunken cell mass which appeared degenerated as against that of group A animal where there were prominent islet cells with a normal exocrine pancreas. In rats treated with Humulin, there was no observable difference in the cytoarchitecture of the pancreatic islet compared to the diabetic control group.