Possible role of Omega-3 on the pancreas of streptozotocininduceddiabetes in adult albino rats: histological andimmunohistochemical study

IntroductionDiabetes mellitus is a major health problem that is characterized by high bloodglucose levels. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease, and leads toinflammation and destruction of insulin-producing β cells in the pancreatic islets.Fish oil (commonly known as Omega-3) is one of the most important polyunsaturatedfatty acids that has an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant activity. Therefore,there is growing evidence that dietary intake of Omega-3 could be useful in diabetesprevention.AimThe aim of this work was to investigate the effect of Omega-3 administration on thepancreatic architecture of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male albino rats.Materials and methodsThirty adult male albino rats were used in the study. They were divided into threegroups. In group I, 10 animals served as a control group. The rest of the animalswere administered an intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 60 mg/kgof streptozotocin; then, rats that were found to be diabetic were dividedinto two groups: group II included 10 animals that served as a model of induceddiabetes and were left without treatment for 4 weeks and group III included 10animals that received a daily oral dose of Omega-3 for 4 weeks after the onsetof diabetes. Finally, pancreatic specimens were collected and processed forimmunohistochemical staining and for light microscopic and transmission electronmicroscopic examination.ResultsInduction of diabetes led to marked degeneration of pancreatic islets with distortionof exocrine acini. Administration of Omega-3 led to normal appearance of theislet and acinar cells, with the formation of new islet cell clusters in close cont actto pancreatic ducts. The duct showed a positive reaction against anti-insulinantibodies.ConclusionThis study suggested that the administration of Omega-3 in a diabetic st atepromotes β-cell regeneration from potent islet progenitor cells present in theductal cells and these lead to restoration of the functional activities of the pancreas.