[Effects of Liuweidihuang pills on pancreatic islet structure in OLETF rats].

Objective: To study the effects of Liuweidihuang pills on pancreatic islet structure in OLETF (Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty) rats.

Methods: Forty male OLETF rats were divided randomly into Liuweidihuang pills group (Liuwei group) and control group (n=20). Ten male LETO rats were used as normal control group (LETO group). The rats in Liuwei group were given Liuweidihuang pills at the daily dose of 2.4 mg/kg intragastrically since the age of 8 weeks. Blood glucose was determined by OGTT. The rats were sacrificed at 8, 32 and 40 weeks and the pancreatic tissue was isolated to examine the morphological changes of the pancreas by HE staining and Masson trichrome staining.

Results: As the age of the rats increased, the pancreatic islets in the control group gradually showed fibrosis and islet atrophy, which were not found in Liuwei group. Masson staining visualized no fibrosis in Liuwei group. No significant pathological change occurred in the pancreatic islet of LETO rats. The rats in Liuwei group developed diabetes since 30 weeks of age and the incidence was 28.6% at 40 weeks, significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Liuweidihuang pills can prevent degeneration of the pancreatic islets in spontaneous OLETF rats.