Pancreatic protection elicited by platelet-rich plasma and cinnamon combination in a rat model of type 1 diabetes: is it a new era in islet cell regeneration and insulin signalling genes?

Introduction: Enhancement of islet cell regeneration is a great demand that worth the attention of researchers and health-care providers to replace the risk of β-cell transplantation in type 1 diabetic patients. Aim: Evaluation of the regenerative and therapeutic potential of cinnamon (CMN) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) either alone or combined on the reversal of the pancreatic ultrastructure and insulin signalling pathway in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Fifteen adult male albino rats were used for obtaining PRP and the remaining 35 rats were used as control, diabetic (STZ, 65mg/kg, IV), diabetic CMN-treated (200 mg/kg, oral), diabetic PRP-treated (0.2 ml/kg, ip), and diabetic combined-treatment groups. Pancreatic specimens were arranged for biochemical analysis, processed for light and electron microscopic studies and were prepared for molecular analysis of the gene expression of insulin receptor-B (IR-B), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and PI3-kinase as a marker for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signalling pathway. Results: Specimens of the diabetic group showed islet atrophy