Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Department of Vector Biology and Control of Disease, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
3 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
4 Department of Venomous Animals and Anti-venom Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, leading to chronic hyperglycemia. The potential therapeutic applications of scorpion venom have gained attention in recent years, particularly in the context of diabetes management. Therefore, our aim is to investigate the effect of A. crassicauda scorpion venom on biochemical factors of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
Methods: In this study, diabetes was defined as any blood sugar level over 250 mg/dL in male Wistar rats induced by a single dose of streptozotocin intraperitoneally. The animals were divided into five groups, two of which received scorpion venom. Afterwards, the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. In addition, histopathological changes in the liver and kidneys were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.
Results: It was found that Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom reduced blood sugar. Other biochemical factors were also decreased compared to the diabetic group, and histological analysis showed partial repair of degenerated liver and kidney cells after venom injection compared with diabetic rats not treated with venom.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the effect of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom on diabetes is positive and reduces diabetic symptoms. Therefore, scorpion venom may be a viable option for managing diabetes in the future.
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