alters metabolic parameters and hepatic histomorphology in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic male rats under antiretroviral therapy.

Introduction: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and HIV/AIDS have been demonstrated to induce endocrine/metabolic dysfunction with a consequential increase in morbidity/mortality due to organ toxicities. This study aimed at investigating the possible protective effect of () against metabolic and hepatic histomorphology of diabetic rats under HAART.

Material And Methods: Sixty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a normoglycemic group A ( = 6) and 7 diabetic (110 mg/kg nicotinamide + 45 mg/kg streptozotocin) groups (B-H) ( = 8) and treated according to protocols. Concomitant treatment with adjuvant and HAART resulted in the least %body weight gain as the liver weight decreased in all treated animals.

Results: Significant changes in serum lipids were aggravated by treatment with and HAART, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels were elevated ( < 0.001/0.05), but changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total protein levels were insignificant. While artherosclerotic and cardiopulmonary indexes remained insignificant, concomitant use of with HAART in diabetes resulted in reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ( < 0.001), and increased triglyceride ( < 0.05) and total cholesterol ( < 0.001). The parameters of liver injury showed a significant ( < 0.05) increase in ALT of animals treated with alone, HAART + and melatonin; however, an insignificant decline in AST level was recorded. Treatment with adjuvant HAART, and melatonin resulted in significant ( < 0.005/0.0001) up-regulation of ALP and total bilirubin levels. Histopathology derangement ranged from severe hepatocellular distortions, necrosis with reduced glycogen expression following co-treatment of HAART+melatonin, and HAART alone in diabetes.

Conclusions: Presumptive hypoglycemic use of with HAART by people living with HIV/AIDS requires caution as implications for hepatocellular injuries are suspected with further uncontrolled metabolic disorder.