Effect of paricalcitol on pancreatic oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and glycemic status in diabetic rats

Objectives: This study is designed to explore the effect of paricalcitol (vitamin D receptor agonist) on pancreatic oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and Adiponectin and glycemic status in diabetic rats.

Materials and methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats aged 10-12 weeks (150-250 g) were used in this study. Type 2 diabetes was developed by providing 4 weeks of high-fat-diet feeding before one shot of streptozotocin injection (40 mg/kg i.p.). Four study groups were designed as normal control rats, diabetic control vehicle-treated, diabetic paricalcitol-treated (0.8 μg/kg), and diabetic glibenclamide-treated (0.6 mg/kg) groups with 10 Animals in each. After treatment of diabetic rats for 3 months, pancreatic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, plasma Adiponectin, glycemic status parameters, and histopathological pancreatic islet changes were evaluated.

Results: Paricalcitol and glibenclamide treatment significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plasma glucose, Insulin resistance, and pancreatic malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. Moreover, they significantly (P < 0.05) increased plasma fasting Insulin, C-peptide, Adiponectin, pancreatic IL-2, catalase, superoxide dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and reduced glutathione when contrasted with diabetic control rats. Furthermore, they prevented extensive histopathological damage in the pancreas of diabetic rats.

Conclusions: Paricalcitol reduced pancreatic oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and improved glycemic status in diabetic rats.