The Effects of Vitamin B6 on the Liver of Diabetic Rats: A Morphological and Biochemical Study

The aim of present study was to investigate the morphological and biochemical effects of vitamin B6 on liver tissue of normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitonal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in a single dose of 65 mg/kg. Vitamin B6 was administered by subcutaneous injection at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 15 days. The degenerative changes in the liver tissue, biochemical changes in blood glucose levels and in serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were determined. Degenerative changes observed in the diabetic animals by light microscopic investigations. Blood glucose levels, serum AST, ALT and ALP activities increased in the diabetic group. On the other hand, the treatment with vitamin B6 for 15 days reversed these effects. As a result, all of the obtained morphological and biochemical findings led to the conclusion that vitamin B6 has a protective effect against diabetes mellitus.