Increased expression and possible roles of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase in pancreatic islets of STZ-induced diabetic monkeys

AIM: To verify and localize the expression of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) in pancreas of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic monkeys and understand its important role in β-cell destruction in the pathogenesis of diabetes. METHODS: Through an olig-microarray gene chip, NNMT was identified as the most obviously up-regulated genes in pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic monkeys versus controls. Semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to verify the differential expression at mRNA and protein level respectively. Then the cellular localization of NNMT expression within pancreas was identified by immunohistochemical(IHC) staining.RESULTS: An obvious high expression of NNMT at both mRNA and protein levels was shown in pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic monkeys compared to that of controls. Further localization of the protein by IHC staining in pancreas specimens showed that its altered expression was restricted to central islets, most of which were β cells.CONCLUSION: Expression of NNMT is increased in islets of STZ- induced diabetic monkeys, which infers that NNMT might participate in the process of β cell damage in diabetes probably through the mechanism of energy metabolism disturbance.     

Splenectomy enhances sensitivity of islets to STZ in mice

AIM: To explore the protective role of spleen in damage of islet beta cells induced by streptozotocin (STZ).METHODS: Splenectomy in mice was performed by surgery. Sixty splenectomy mice were divided into 3 groups as the mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ at doses of 80 mg/kg or 160 mg/kg, and saline, respectively. Sixty normal mice (without splenectomy) were also grouped and treated as above for controls. One week later, fasting blood glucose and serum insulin were monitored,and beta cell mass and the apoptosis of islet cells were analyzed by the methods of immunohistochemistry and ELISA, respectively. The content of reactive oxygen species was determined by the method of luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence.RESULTS: Compared to the normal control mice, the concentrations of fasting blood glucose significantly increased, and serum insulin reduced in splenectomy mice treated with STZ at the dose of 80 mg/kg. Moreover, beta cell mass decreased, enrichment factor of nucleosomes of islet apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species produced in pancreas tissues significantly increased in splenectomy mice treated with STZ at the dose of 80 mg/kg.CONCLUSION: Splenectomy increases the sensitivity of islets to STZ in mice by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species in pancreas.     

Anti-diabetic effects of emodin involved in the activation of PPARγ on high-fat diet-fed and low dose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Rheum palmatum Linn has been widely applied in the clinical treatment of diabetes mellitus. It has been found that emodin as the major bioactive component of R. palmatum L exhibits the competency to activate peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) in vitro. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of emodin through the activation of PPARγ on high-fat diet-fed and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The diabetic mice were intraperitoneally injected with emodin for three weeks. No changes of food consumption and the body weight in emodin-treated mice were monitored daily during the entire experiment. At the end of experiment, the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum were significantly decreased after emodin treatment. However, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) concentration was significantly elevated. The glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in emodin-treated group were significantly improved. Furthermore, the results of quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that emodin significantly elevated the mRNA expression level of PPARγ and regulated the mRNA expressions of LPL, FAT/CD36, resistin and FABPs (ap2) in liver and adipocyte tissues. No effects on the mRNA expressions of PPARα and PPARα-target genes were observed. Taken together, the results suggested that the activation of PPARγ and the modulation of metabolism-related genes were likely involved in the anti-diabetic effects of emodin.     

Aqueous extract of Anemarrhena rhizome increases cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y expression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In this study, the effects of the aqueous extract of Anemarrhena rhizome on cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y expression in the dentate gyrus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated via immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and neuropeptide Y. The results showed that the treatment with 50 to 200 mug/kg/day for 7 days of the aqueous extract of Anemarrhena rhizome increased new cell formation and neuropeptide Y expression in the dentate gyrus of diabetic rats reduced by the treatment with streptozotocin in rat.     

Expression of CTGF and its role in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat kidney

AIM:To investigate the change of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) expression and its role in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat kidney. METHODS:Male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control(sham operated rats, group C，n=32) and diabetic rats (group DN，n=35). Rats in each group were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks respectively after induction of diabetes. Body weight（BW）, blood glucose（BG）, 24-hour urine volumn（UV）, kidney weight, KW/BW,24-hour urinary albumin excretion (24Ualb), creatinine clearance (Ccr), kidney weight (KW), KW/BW, glomerular area (A_G), proximal tubular area (A_T) and the width of GBM、TBM at each time point were measured. Expression of CTGF and α-SMA were detected by immunostaining. RESULTS:There was a significant increase of 24 h Ualb, Ccr, KW/BW, A_G, V_G and the expression of CTGF in glomeruli and tubuli from week 1 onward in diabetic rats compared with those in group C (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively), and an increasing expression of α-SMA mainly located in dilated tubuli from week 4 was found in group DN, which was more evident at week 8 accompanied by the decrease in A_T. Diabetic rats also had a significant increase in A_T from week 1 onward, which peaked at week 4. CONCLUSION:In the early stage of DN, the time-dependently upregulated CTGF might mediate the renal hypertrophy, which might be associated with the subsequent tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) and renal fibrosis.     

低聚原花青素对STZ糖尿病小鼠血糖水平的影响

目的:观察低聚原花青素(OPC)对糖尿病小鼠血糖的影响。方法:用低聚原花青素对昆明小鼠进行口服毒性限量试验;采用STZ小剂量多次注射方法诱导糖尿病小鼠模型;实验组分别按50、100、150 mg/kg体质量灌胃给予OPC,模型组和正常对照组则灌胃给予等容积生理盐水,连续4周;观察小鼠的一般情况、动态监测实验动物外周血中血糖含量。结果:小鼠口服OPC限量试验结果>5 g/kg体质量,证实OPC安全、无毒性作用;成模小鼠的空腹血糖水平为18.37±2.13 mmol/L,明显高于正常对照组(P<0.01),并出现三多一少的糖尿病症状,表明糖尿病模型制作成功;3个OPC给药组糖尿病小鼠的血糖水平升高趋势得到控制,血糖随着给药时间延长而下降,与模型组比较,具有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:OPC具有控制糖尿病小鼠血糖升高幅度,降低血糖水平、干预糖尿病发生发展进程的作用。     

Antihyperglycemic effect of Cucurbita ficifolia fruit extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In the present study, the antihyperglycemic effects of Cucurbita ficifolia fruit extract were investigated on streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes in rats. Oral administration of the extract (300 and 600 mg/kg body weight, day) for 30 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, and an increase in plasma insulin and total haemoglobin. The effect was compared with 150 mg/kg b.w. tolbutamide.     

桑树不同药用部位的降血糖效果比较

桑树是一种重要的药用植物资源。以春天采集的桑叶、桑白皮、桑枝(嫩枝)和桑皮4种中药材为材料,究了4种中药材的乙醇提取物对链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin)诱导的糖尿病小鼠的降血糖效果。结果显示,这4中药材都具有明显的降血糖作用,其中桑枝的功效最为显著     

Microvessel density and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in glomeruli of diabetic mice

AIM: To investigate the relationship between microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in glomeruli of diabetic mice. METHODS: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice as well as the control mice were involved in this study for 6 weeks. The body weight and blood glucose level of the mice in each group were weekly measured at certain time point. The morphological changes of the kidney were observed under light microscope, and the diameter, perimeter and area of the glomeruli were detected by an image analysis system. The expression of CD34 and VEGF in glomeruli was examined by immunohistochemistry method, and MVD and VEGF index were also calculated. RESULTS: In comparison with the control mice, the blood glucose level was significantly increased,and the body weight was decreased in diabetic mice(P<0.01). The diameter, perimeter and area of glomeruli in diabetic mice were significant greater than those in control mice (P<0.05). Increased expression of CD34 and VEGF in the glomeruli of diabetic mice was observed. Glomerular MVD of diabetic mice was significantly higher than that of the controls (P<0.01), and was positively correlated with the VEGF index (r=0.9979, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGF may promote the angiogenesis in glomeruli of diabetic mice. The increase in VEGF expression may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.     

Endothelium-dependent and -independent effect of aqueous extract of garlic on vascular reactivity on diabetic rats

Garlic has been well known for its protective effects against cardiovascular disease. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of garlic on the vascular reactivity of thoracic aorta from streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats was investigated in the presence and absence of endothelium. Although, 8-weeks of treatment with garlic extract had no significant effect on the concentration of serum glucose, but it significantly attenuated the abnormality in vascular reactivity to noradrenaline (NA) and acetylcholine (Ach). In addition, the endothelium-independent relaxation response to isosorbide dinitrate (ISD) was not affected by diabetes or garlic treatment. The results suggest that garlic treatment of STZ-diabetic rats can prevent the development of abnormal contractility through an endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanism.