HEPATIC AND PANCREATIC EFFECTS OF POLYENOYLPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE IN RATS WITH ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETES

Polyenoylphosphatidylcholine (PPC: 100 or 300 mg kg(-1) b.w., by gastr ic intubation for 30 days) produced a clearcut protection of the liver of rats treated with alloxan (150 mg kg(-1) b.w., i.p.). The liver of rats treated with alloxan was characterized by hydropic dystrophy and lymphocytic infiltrations. Treatment with alloxan increased serum gam ma-GT and ALAT activities. The liver structure of rats treated with PP C did not differ from the liver of control animals. PPC normalized the biochemical abnormalities caused by the diabetes. The number of pancr eatic islets and beta/alpha cell ratio decreased in the diabetic rats. A number of beta-cells in this group did not contain granules. PPC pr evented the decrease in the number of islets and the beta/alpha cell r atio in the pancreas of the diabetic rats. The intensity of staining o f beta-cell granules in the pancreas of PPC-treated rats had a positio n intermediate between the control and diabetic groups. Alloxan increa sed the blood glucose content where treatment with PPC decreased this. The results suggest that PPC acts as a cytoprotector in the liver and pancreas of rats with experimental diabetes induced by alloxan.