HISTOMORPHOLOGIC AND HISTOMORPHOMETRIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Telfairia occidentalis ON THE HIPPOCAMPUS OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifaceted condition that is known to disrupt normal glucose metabolism, resulting in chronic hyperglycemia and glycosuria. This disruption not only affects glucose metabolism but also leads to increased oxidative stress, which damages multiple organs, contributing to approximately 80% of global morbidity and mortality.

Aim: To evaluate the histological effect of ethanol leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (ELETO) on the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

Materials and Method: Forty-two adult male Wistar rats weighing between 160-180 g were used for this study, divided into six groups of seven rats (n=7), fed on standard laboratory rat chow and constituted High Fat Diet for four weeks and given free access to clean water. Diabetes was induced in overnight fasted Wistar rats with five days of low-dose intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg/kg of Streptozotocin. Group A (normal control) rats were given single dose of citrate buffer solution and fed on standard laboratory rat chow throughout the experiment, while groups B, C, D and F were fed on constituted High Fat Diet (HFD) for four weeks and given Streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, for 5 days. Group E (Prophylactic group) rats were fed on constituted High Fat Diet for four weeks and given ELETO (300 mg/kg) orally for two weeks before the administration of Streptozotocin (35 mg/kg), intraperitoneally. Three days post diabetic-induction, ELETO and Insulin administration commenced. Group B was the STZ Negative Control, Group C (low dose) received 300 mg/kg of ELETO for two weeks, Group D (High Dose) received 600 mg/kg of ELETO for two weeks, and Group F rats were given 5 IU/kg of insulin intraperitoneally for two weeks. On the 13th day post induction, blood glucose levels were accessed using a Fine test glucometer. Blood samples were obtained via cardiac puncture on the day of sacrifice, centrifuged at 3000 rmp for 30 minutes and the serum obtained was used for biochemical analysis. Routine histological tissue sections were made to access the histoarchitectural and histomorphometric effects of diabetes on the hippocampus of experimental animals. Data were analyzed using differential and inferential statistics. Results were expressed as Means ± S.E.M, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The result showed that STZ intraperitoneal administration caused distortion of hippocampal histoarchitecture in the experimental animals. However, treatment with intervening agent showed a dose-dependent improvement in the ultra-structural derangement observed in the experimental animals. It was also observed that the experimental dose showed significant cognitive improvement when compared to negative control. Administration of the intervening agent showed a dose-dependent significant decrease in blood glucose levels and a substantial increase in body weight of treated animals when compared to the untreated diabetic group. T. occidentalis extract caused reversal of the damage done and near normal hippocampal histoarchitecture was restored.

Conclusion: This study concluded that T. occidentalis extract has antidiabetic potential as it was able to prevent diabetes in the prophylactic group and ameliorate hippocampal derangement in the curative groups.