The Protective Effects of Insulin and Natural Honey against Hippocampal Cell Death in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract EN

We investigated the effects of insulin and honey as antioxidants to prevent the hippocampal cell death in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

We selected sixty Wister rats (5 groups of 12 animals each), including the control group (C), and four diabetic groups (control (D) and 3 groups treated with insulin (I), honey (H), and insulin plus honey (I + H)).

Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (IP, 60 mg/kg).

Six weeks after the induction of diabetes, the group I received insulin (3-4 U/kg/day, SC), group H received honey (5 mg/kg/day, IP), and group I + H received a combination of the above at the same dose.

Groups C and D received normal saline.

Two weeks after treatment, rats were sacrificed and the hippocampus was extracted.

Neuronal cell death in the hippocampal region was examined using trypan blue assay, “H & E” staining, and TUNEL assay.

Cell viability assessment showed significantly lower number of living cells in group D than in group C.

Besides, the mean number of living cells was significantly higher in group I, H, and I + H compared to group D.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin, honey, and a combination of insulin and honey can prevent neuronal cell death in different hippocampal areas of the studied samples.