The programmable cell death (apoptosis) is a component of both the normal development of the body and a number of pathological conditions, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, septic shock, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity.
The purpose of the study. The study of the influence of the thick bean extract (TBE) on the intensity of apoptotic processes in the cells of the liver and pancreas of rats on a model of diabetes mellitus type 2 against the background of obesity.
Materials and methods. Modeling diabetes type 2 in the mature males six-month-Wistar rats (n=21) has been carried out by introducing a low dose of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg intraperitoneally) in the 90-day keeping the animals on the combined diet. Metformin has been administrated orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg and TBE — 40 mg/kg for 30 days starting from day 95th of the experiment. The identification of apoptotic cells with DNA samples of liver and pancreas has been carried out using the method of electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel electrophoresis using a marker of apoptosis 1kb DNA SibEnzyme.
Results and discussion. In the liver samples from the animals of the group “Diabetes + metformin”, we have seen less pronounced intensity of apoptotic DNA decay, but with the presence of the traces of necrosis in individual samples. In the group of animals “Diabetes + TBE” the electrophoretogram of hepatocyte DNA samples have shown almost no significant manifestations of apoptosis, which may indicate a complex restoration of metabolic processes in the liver. We have noted the presence of apoptotic DNA decay and traces of necrosis that are characterized by poor functional condition of the exocrine pancreas in three of the six DNA samples from homogenates of the rat pancreas of the group “Diabetes + Metformin”. We have observed the traces of necrosis without evidence of the apoptotic process, that are at the level of the animal group “The intact control”, in two of the seven DNA studied samples of the rat pancreas of the group “Diabetes + TBE”.
Conclusions. A prolonged use of metformin in the rats treatment has indicated the presence of apoptotic DNA decay and the trace of necrosis in the liver and pancreas. Electrophoretogram of the DNA samples of the liver and pancreas cells of the rats treated with the TBE for a month — are without the evidence of the apoptotic process. The TBE has shown a more pronounced effect than metformin in reducing the risk of premature loss of pancreatic cell function and the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The TBE is promising for the further pharmacological studies with the purpose of the histomorphological study the effect on the state of the pancreas to correct complications of DM type 2.