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Response of thymus lymphocytes to streptozotocin induced diabetes and exogenous vitamin C administration in rats        
Yazarlar
Doç. Dr. Dilşad ÖZERKAN Doç. Dr. Dilşad ÖZERKAN
Türkiye
Nesrin Özsoy Erdaş
Ankara Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Suna Cebesoy
Ankara Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Özet
Diabetes causes oxidative stress, which in turn generates excessive free radicals resulting in cellular damage. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects tissues and organs from oxidative stress. The thymus is one of the most important lymphoid organs, which regulates T-lymphocyte proliferation and maturation. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of vitamin C on the thymus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The mitotic activity and cell integrity of thymic lymphocytes were explored. Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups: control (Group 1), STZ-diabetes (Group 2) and vitamin C-treated STZ-diabetics (Group 3). Rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg STZ to induce diabetes. Vitamin C (20 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically. Semithin and ultrathin sections were examined under a light or an electron microscope, respectively. Considerable numbers of mitotic lymphocytes were observed in the thymus of control rats. In the diabetic rats, however, numbers of mitotic lymphocytes decreased to ∼57% of controls, and cell division abnormalities were observed. Additionally, diabetic rats showed degeneration in the structure of the thymus including trabecular thickening, accumulation of lipid vacuoles, heterochromatic nuclei and loss of mitochondrial cristae. Degradation of medullar and cortical integrity was also detected. In the vitamin C-treated STZ-diabetic group, the structure of the thymus and mitotic activity of the lymphocytes were similar to the control group. These results suggest that vitamin C protects the thymus against injury caused by diabetes and restores thymocyte mitotic activity.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Diabetes | Electron microscope | Mitotic activity | Thymus | Vitamin C
Makale Türü Özgün Makale
Makale Alt Türü SSCI, AHCI, SCI, SCI-Exp dergilerinde yayımlanan tam makale
Dergi Adı MICROSCOPY
Dergi ISSN 2050-5698
Dergi Tarandığı Indeksler SCI-Expanded
Dergi Grubu Q3
Makale Dili İngilizce
Basım Tarihi 12-2014
Cilt No 63
Sayı 6
Sayfalar 409 / 417
Doi Numarası 10.1093/jmicro/dfu029
Makale Linki http://jmicro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/doi/10.1093/jmicro/dfu029