effects of insulin on the volume, absolute and relative weight of liver in HFD/streptozocin induced diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

In present study, the effects of insulin on the volume, absolute and relative weight of liver was studied in Wistar albino rats for a period of 4 weeks. Retrospective / observational study. This study was conducted in the Animal House of DUHS and it took 8 months 1[st] June 2011 to 1[st] Feb 2012 to be completed. The Male Wistar albino rats which were randomized into 3 groups; each group containing 10 rats. Group A served as control, Group B as insulin treated and Group E as untreated diabetic rats. All the other rats except the Group A were kept on in-house prepared High Fat Diet [HFD] throughout the study. After 2 weeks of exclusive HFD, diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal [IP] injection of low dose streptozocin [STZ 3.5mg/100gm]. After the induction, one group was left untreated [Group E] and one group [Group B] was treated with insulin for 4 weeks. The rats were then, sacrificed, liver was isolated, weighed, and its dimensions were noted. The mean absolute liver weight [ALW] of rats was observed as 8.60 +/- 2.54 gm, 13.18 +/- 0.68 gm and 9.40 +/- 3.18.gm in control, untreated and insulin treated groups respectively. And the mean percent liver weight [PLW] was calculated as 2.99 +/- 0.66%, 5.10 +/- 0.73% and 3.99 +/- 1.37% in control, untreated and insulin treated groups respectively. Statistically significant difference was noted between ALW, PLW and liver volume of rats of the three groups. Insulin decreases the volume, absolute and relative weight of liver of diabetic rats when used for a short period