Evaluation of Ameliorative Effect of Taurine and Metformin in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of Taurine (TAU), singly and in combination on streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. For this purpose, male Albino wistar male, 200–250 g in weight, assigned to groups of five, were intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with the diabetogen streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg, in citrate buffer pH 4.5) on day four, orally (p.o.) with either MET, TAU or MET-TAU (each at 2.4 mM/kg, in water). Control rats received only citrate buffer pH 4.5 (2 mL). After the study duration, the blood samples were withdrawn through retro-orbital plexus and blood glucose level (GLC) and insulin (INS) were measured. Further, various lipid parameters were also observed from blood.  Immediately thereafter, the liver were surgically removed and a portion was used to prepare a homogenate in 0.1 M PBS pH 7.4, which was use for the determination of various parameters from liver. Diabetes group raised the plasma GLC level (497.1±9.3 mg/dL) but lowered that of the blood INS (27.7±3.5 μU/mL) compared to corresponding values from nondiabetic rats (GLC =88.5±3.2 mg/dL and INS=43.7±4.8 μU/mL) after STZ administration. In addition, it raised the liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level but lowered the reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) significantly (all at p < 0.01) was also observed in rats after administration STZ. After the treatment, with TAU and MET alone or in combination, the significant reduction of GLC and enhancement of INS was observed. Moreover, liver MDA level reduced but enhanced the GSH, and GSSG was also observed significantly (all at p < 0.01) in rats after administration of TAU alone or in combination with MET. The histopathological, significant alterations in the diabetic control rats livers were disorderly hepatocyte, cytoplasm dissolution, monocellular leukocytic infiltration, karyomegaly, hyperchromatic nuclei, nucleus karyolysis, and dilated congested portal vein were also observed.  Finally, it was concluded that the effect of TAU alone on  liver parameters is comparable to MET on rats but their combination exhibited a synergistic effect on, liver parameters, and on GLC as well as on INS.