title: Amelioration of alloxan-induced diabetic keratopathy by beta-carotene.
abstract: This study was undertaken to assess the anti-keratopathy activity of β-carotene in experimentally-induced diabetic animal model. The rats were divided into four groups as following: G1, normal control group; G2, β-carotene control group (50 mg/kg b.wt.); G3, diabetic group which was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose (100 mg/kg b. wt) of alloxan (ALX) and G4, diabetic rats treated with β-carotene which was injected with ALX as G3, and then received a daily oral dose of β-carotene (50 mg/kg b.wt.) for 3 months. ALX injection caused elevated levels of serum glucose in diabetic group. Moreover, histopathology revealed relatively thick corneal epithelium, ill-defined Bowman's membrane, widely spaced stromal layers and relatively thick Descemet's membrane. Electron microscopic studies showed vacuolated cytoplasm, partial loss of hemi-desmosomes and disorganized collagen fibrils with focal lysis of stromal layer. Oral gavage of β-carotene to diabetic rats for 3 months significantly decreased serum glucose level and ameliorated histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural results. Consequently, β-carotene exerted anti-keratopathy effects and ameliorated the corneal changes in diabetic rats via its hypoglycemic and antioxidant mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Egypt. Electronic address: medo_bio@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdul-Hamid
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moustafa
mesh_terms: D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D051381:Rats; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D000496:Alloxan
keywords: Cornea; Diabetic keratopathy; Histopathological changes; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Ultrastructure; β-Carotene