Possible ameliorative effect of sulfur containing amino acids on streptozotocin diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

A possible therapeutic use of some sulfur containing amino acids [SCAA] [taurine, cysteine and methionine] was investigated. An induction of diabetes was done in 80 male albino rats subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/ kg b. wt. of streptozotocin [STZ]. The diabetic rats were classified into eight equal groups in addition to ten normal male albino rats served as a control group. A biochemical analysis of serum for all rats for four weeks of treatment was done to measure liver function, kidney function and lipogram. The histopathological and histochemical studies for liver and kidney for all treated groups supported the biochemical results. The data showed a marked hepatorenal dysfunction in addition to severe hyperlipidemia in the STZ diabetic control group. The ameliorative action of insulin was similar to that induced by the aforementioned amino acids. The combined treatment with insulin plus SCAA gave better results: