Mitigations in Testicular, Hepatic, and Pancreatic Histo-morphology in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Sprague Rats Treated with Fresh Coconut Oil and Vitamin E

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a condition in which the pancreas produces insufficient amounts of insulin, or in which the body’s cells fail to respond appropriately to available insulin. In diabetics, glucose levels build up in the blood and urine, causing excessive urination, thirst, hunger, and problems with fat and protein metabolism. Studies have shown that antioxidant constituents of virgin coconut oil might be helpful in ameliorating DM.The present study investigated the lessening effect(s) of fresh coconut oil (FCO) intake on the deterioration of liver and pancreatic tissues in alloxan-induced diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. Ninety-eight (98) albino rats (100 - I50g) were randomly divided into two (2) units of forty-nine (49) rats each; with each unit subdivided into seven (7) groups of seven (7) animals each. At induction of diabetes mellitus (DM) in subgroups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of unit 1 and B, C, D, E, F and G of Unit 2, rats in 1 and A subgroups were left untouched to serve as a control. Whereas, unit 1 (treated for 2 weeks), subgroups 2-7 respectively received nothing (after DM confirmation), nothing (after DM confirmation), 7.5 mg/kg of FCO, 10 mg/kg of FCO, 7.5 mg/kg of FCO plus Vitamin E, 10 mg/kg of FCO plus Vitamin E, and only Vitamin E; Unit 2 animals (treated for 4 weeks) were given untreated (after confirming diabetes), 7.5 mg/kg of FCO, 10 mg/kg of FCO, 7.5 mg/kg of FCO + Vitamin E, 10 mg/kg of FCO and Vitamin E, and Vitamin E respectively for B-G subgroups. Following administration of test substance, rats were euthanized by cervical dislocation, testes, pancreas and liver tissues harvested for histo-architectural analysis/changes. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that dietary factor-Vitamin E, significantly modulates the effect of FCO with significant improvement in histo-architecture in Type 1 diabetes mellitus.