Immunohistochemical localization of epidermal growth factor receptors in the liver of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which affects different tissues including the liver. Epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] family is one of the tyrosine kinase receptor families that regulate liver pathophysiology

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Aim of the work: This study aimed to demonstrate the histological and EGFR immunohistochemical changes that occur in the liver of streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rat

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Materials and methods: Twenty male albino rats divided into two groups, group I [control] and group II [diabetic], were used. Diabetes was induced in the animals in group II by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ [40 mg/kg]. Five rats from each group were sacrificed 2 and 4 weeks after the STZ injection. Blood samples were collected for detection of serum glucose and insulin levels. Paraffin sections of the liver were prepared and stained with H and E, periodic acid Schiff, Masson's trichrome stains, and immunohistochemical stain using anti-EGFR antibody

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Results: Diabetes mellitus was associated with marked congestion of central veins, blood sinusoids, and hepatic veins. Hepatocytes showed degenerative and fatty changes, especially in the periportal regions. Four weeks after induction of diabetes, signs of hepatic regeneration such as large binucleated hepatocytes were observed in the pericentral regions. Control livers showed strong positive EGFR immunoreactivity in hepatocytes, mainly in the periportal and pericentral regions, and in the bile duct epithelium. A marked decrease in EGFR immunoreactivity was observed in the livers of diabetic rats

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Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is associated with marked hepatic congestion, degenerative and fatty changes in the hepatocytes, and decreased hepatic EGFR immunoreactivity