Antidiabetic effects of chitooligosaccharides on pancreatic islet cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of chitooligosaccharides on proliferation of pancreatic islet cells, release of insulin and 2 h plasma glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.


METHODS
In vitro, the effect of chitooligosaccharides on proliferation of pancreatic islet cells and release of insulin was detected with optical microscopy, colorimetric assay, and radioimmunoassay respectively. In vivo, the general clinical symptoms, 2 h plasma glucose, urine glucose, oral glucose tolerance were examined after sixty days of feeding study to determine the effect of chitooligosaccharides in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.


RESULTS
Chitooligosaccharides could effectively accelerate the proliferation of pancreatic islet cells. Chitooligosaccharides (100 mg/L) had direct and prominent effect on pancreastic beta cells and insulin release from islet cells. All concentrations of chitooligosaccharides could improve the general clinical symptoms of diabetic rats, decrease the 2 h plasma glucose and urine glucose, and normalize the disorders of glucose tolerance.


CONCLUSIONS
Chitooligosaccharides possess various biological activities and can be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Liu
Bing
B
College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
Liu
Wan-Shun
WS
Han
Bao-Qin
BQ
Sun
Yu-Ying
YY
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007328:Insulin; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D048271:Chitosan