Alloxan-induced diabetes causes morphological and ultrastructural changes in rat liver that resemble the natural history chronic fatty liver disease in humans

• Grant number: 15/50032-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: April 01, 2015
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: César Tadeu Spadella
• Grantee: César Tadeu Spadella
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Thirty non-diabetic control (NC) and 30 untreated diabetic (UD) rats were divided into three subgroups sacrificed after 6, 14, or 26 weeks. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed. Fresh liver weight and its relationship with body weight were obtained, and liver tissue was analyzed using optical and transmission electron microscopy UD rats showed sustained hyperglycemia, high glycosylated hemoglobin rates and low plasma insulin levels. High serum levels of AST and AL T were observed in UD rats after 2 weeks, but only AL T remained elevated until the end of the experiment. Fresh liver weight was equal between NC and UD reis, but the fresh liver weight /body weight ratio was significant/y higher in UD rats after 14 and 26 weeks. UD rats showed liver morphological changes characterized by hepatic sinusoidal enlargement and micro- and macrovesicular hepatocyte fatty degeneration with progressive liver structure loss, steatohepatitis and periportal tibrosis. Ultrastructural changes of hepatocytes, such as a decrease in the number of intracytoplasmic organelles and degeneration of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and nuclei were also observed. Alloxan-induced diabetes triggered liver morphological and ultrastructural changes that closely resembled human disease, ranging from steatosis to steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis. (AU)