Effects of prolonged treatment with Syzygium cumini on the salivary glands of spontaneously diabetic mice

It is estimated that 190 million people worldwide have diabetes mellitus. Several attempts have been made to elucidate the deleterious effects of diabetes on various organ systems, as well as the reversal of these effects by treatment and/or diet. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of prolonged treatment with Syzygium cumini (Jambolan) sheet aqueous extract on the structure of cells responsible for secretory processes in the parotid and submandibular salivary glands of spontaneously diabetic mice. Ten female mice, including five diabetic Nod mice (group I) and five BALB/c mice (group II), were used. After characterization of the diabetic state, animals of group I received Syzygium cumini extract and group II animals received water ad libitum. After the experimental period, the salivary glands were collected from the animals for stereological analysis. The results showed structural alterations in the salivary glands of diabetic animals characterized by nuclear and cytoplasmic atrophy and the occurrence of inflammatory cells, as well as elevated glycemia levels. We conclude that no recovery of normal glycemia levels or glandular tissue structure occurs in diabetic animals even when treated with Syzygium cumini extract, a fact that might result in changes in the functional mechanisms of these organs.

Prostatic stromal microenvironment and experimental diabetes.

The diabetes causes alterations in various organ systems, including the male accessory sex glands. The prostate is very important in the reproductive process and it is a frequent target of malignant changes. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the histochemical and ultrastructural alterations in the prostate of diabetic animals. Two groups of animals were utilized: control and non-obese diabetic mice (NOD). Twelve days after the characterization of diabetic status the ventral prostate was collected, fixed in Karnovsky and paraformaldehyde, processed for histochemistry and TEM associated to stereology. The results showed reduction of the epithelial area and increasing of the stromal area with muscular and collagen hypertrophy in the prostatic gland. It was characterized the development of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, inflammatory processes and dilation of the organelles involved in the secretory process. It was concluded that diabetes besides damaging the reproductive process, affects the glandular homeostasis favoring the development of prostatic pathologies.