Ginger Ameliorated the Exocrine Pancreatic Structure of Fetuses of Diabetic Mother Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Objective: Hyperglycaemia and diabetic complication during pregnancy interfered with birth defect and traditional usage of phytotherapy take a great attention. The present study searched for illustrate the interference of maternal diabetes on the development of exocrine pancreas during in utero growth and role of ginger extract in improving the disease. Research design and methods: Sixteen pregnant rats were used and arranged into four groups (n = 4); control, ginger extract group, diabetes, diabetes and ginger supplementation. Diabetes was induced by single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg in citrate buffer pH 4.5 plus 100mg/kg nicotinamide). Ginger watery extract (200mg/kg body weight) was orally daily supplemented from 5th day of gestation until 14th day of gestation. Pregnant were sacrificed at 14th day of gestation, fetuses were separated and exocrine pancreas were separated and fixed in either 10% phosphate buffered formalin or 2.5 cacodylate buffered glutaraldhyde for transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry of caspase 3 was carried out. During the gestation period, blood glucose level was measured in the studied groups. Results: The present results revealed that diabetes developed atrophy and degeneration of the acinar epithelium of the pancreas. At ultrastructural level, there was a considerable missing of the secretory granules and arranged of rough endoplasmic reticulum taking the characteristic feature of fibrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis illustrated over expression of caspase 3 in acina epithelium. However, ginger water extract supplementation to diabetic mother improved the blood glucose level and histo-cytlogical and immunohistochemical picture manifesting marked alleviation of the drastic alterations compared to the control. Conclusion: The author concluded that ginger extract showed a potent antioxidant activity, decreasing the diabetes associated oxidative stress and improved the fetal exocrine pancreas histo-cytological structure.