Protective effects of y-irradiation to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats: A biochemical and histological study

The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible protective effect of low dose of gamma radiation against pancreatic cells damage in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Young male Wister rats were divided into the control group, the irradiated groups, which divided into two subgroups, single irradiated group, which subjected to 0.5 Gy of whole body gamma-irradiation as a single dose and repeated irradiated group, which subjected to 0.5 Gy of whole body gamma-irradiation as a repeated dose (0.5 Gy daily for two days). The 3rd groups, which in turn subdivided into three subgroups, STZ group administrated to a single dose of 45 mg kg-1 of STZ (i.p), the STZ single irradiated group, subjected to single irradiated dose after the STZ administration and STZ repeated irradiated group, that exposed to repeated dose of radiation after the STZ administration. The diabetic rats presented a significant increase in plasma glucose and lipid peroxidation and a significant decrease in both whole blood SOD and GSH as well as in liver tissue. In addition, marked depression was observed in plasma and liver glutathione- S-transferase compared with normal rats. Low dose of radiation as a single or repeated doses, significantly reduced blood glucose and TEARS and significantly increased SOD activity and GSH content in both blood and liver besides a marked amelioration in GST activity in plasma and liver tissues. The ultra structural studies revealed that STZ affects both cells of pancreas. There was a reduction in secretary granules and rough endoplasmic reticulum with the accumulation of lipid. Low dose of y-rays exposure result a remarkable protective effect on biochemical and histological level