EFFECTS OF MOMORDICA-CHARANTIA FRUIT JUICE ON ISLET MORPHOLOGY IN THEPANCREAS OF THE STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RAT

An investigation was made of the effect of Momordica charantia fruit j uice on the distribution and number of alpha, beta and delta cells in the pancreas of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats using immun ohistochemical methods. The results indicated that there was a signifi cant (Student's t-test, P < 0.004) increase in the number of beta cell s in M, charantia-treated animals when compared with untreated diabeti cs, however, their number was still significantly less than that obtai ned for normal rats. There was also a significant (P < 0.006) increase in the number of delta cells in STZ-diabetic rats compared to non-dia betic rats. This increase in the number of delta cells was not affecte d by M. charantia treatment. The number of alpha cells did not change significantly in M. chararntia-treated rats when compared with untreat ed diabetic rats. Our results suggest that oral feeding of M. charanti a fruit juice may have a role in the renewal of beta cells in STZ-diab etic rats or alternately may permit the recovery of partially destroye d beta cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.