Effect of chromium picotinate on histological skin alterations of streptozotocin - diabetic rats. a light and electron microscopic study

ABSTRACT

Chromium was believed to be an essential trace element in human nutrition. Evidence suggested that it played an important role in carbohydrate metabolism, mainly co-acting with insulin, improving glucose tolerance. It was also hypothesized that it could lower the risk of diabetic micro vascular complications. Was to evaluate the efficacy of chromium picolinate in ameliorating diabetes-induced histological skin alterations. Twenty five adult male albino rats were used in the current study. The rats were divided into two main groups, the control group [10 rats] and the diabetic group [15 rats]. The control group was divided in 2 equal subgroups. Group II in which diabetes was induced using streptozotocin [STZ] and was divided into 3 subgroups, 5 rats each. Subgroup ha formed of diabetic rats. Subgroup IIb formed of diabetic rats that received insulin. Subgroup IIc formed of diabetic rats that received insulin and chromium. The duration of experiment was 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, an area from dorsal thin skin was dissected out and prepared for H and E stain, electron microscopic study and immunohistochemistry for CD34 of vascular endothelial cells. Thin skin of subgroup ha showed significant reduction in the mean thickness of nucleated epidermal keratinocyles as compared to control. Most of epidermal cells appeared with deeply- stained shrunken nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant reduction in CD34 area% of papillary and reticular vascular network. Ultra-thin sections revealed focal absence of hemidesmosonics. Disruption of desmosomes and widening in intercellular spaces were frequently detected. Treatment with chromium showed signs of improvement manifested by significant increase in thickness of nucleated keratinocytes and CD34 area% compared to subgroup Ila and llb, Most of keratinocytes preserved their LM and EM characteristic appearance. Chromium picolinate could play an important role in the long term protection of skin affection that might result from diabetes mellitus