Changes in Lipid Metabolism under Alloxan Diabetes in Laboratory Animals and the Influence of Antidiabetic and Hypoglycemic Therapy on These Changes.

Abstract

Alloxan has been proposed as a diabetogenic agent due to its ability to destroy pancreatic β cells through the formation of free radicals, leading to oxidative stress, which has a significant role in the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. In Wistar rats with alloxan-induced diabetes, the levels of liver glycogen in the liver and the levels of total lipids and triglycerides in the liver, adipose tissue, and muscles were assessed over two months. Experimental diabetes was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of liver glycogen and an increase in the levels of triglycerides and total lipids in the liver, muscles, and adipose tissue. Treatment with insulin and metformin led to improvements in these parameters, with insulin having a more pronounced effect. The glycogen levels in the liver in rats receiving insulin was significantly higher than in animals treated with metformin (2767.86 and 1075.40 mg/100 g of tissue, respectively). The total lipid content in the liver significantly decreased against the background of insulin treatment compared to metformin (5730.90 and 8486.87 mg/100 g of tissue, respectively). Metformin administration led to an 11.9% reduction in liver triglycerides, while insulin reduced them by 25%. Oral administration of metformin for two months did not affect liver glycogen levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Insulin injections increased liver glycogen levels and reduced total lipid and triglyceride levels in the liver. The hypolipidemic effect of these drugs appears to be due to the regulation of metabolism at the liver and adipose tissue levels.