Vol 67, No 3 (2008)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2008-06-02
The granule cell density of the dentate gyrus following administration of Urtica dioica extract to young diabetic rats
S.A. Fazeli, A.M. Gharravi, S. Ghafari, M. Jahanshahi, M.J. Golalipour
DOI: 10.5603/fm.v67i3.15973
·
Folia Morphol 2008;67(3):196-204.
Vol 67, No 3 (2008)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2008-06-02
Abstract
Urtica dioica L. Stinging nettle has long been known worldwide as a medicinal
plant. To study the benefits of the nettle in diabetic encephalopathy, the granule
cell density of the dentate gyrus of diabetic rats was studied following
administration of Urtica dioica extract. A total of 24 male albino Wistar rats
were allocated equally to normal, diabetic, preventive and treatment groups.
Hyperglycaemia was induced by streptozotocin (80 mg/kg) in the animals of
the diabetic and treatment groups. One week after injection of the streptozotocin
the animals in the treatment group received a hydroalcoholic extract of
Urtica dioica (100 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks intraperitoneally. The rats of the
preventive group received hydroalcoholic extract of U. dioica (100 mg/kg/day)
IP for the first 5 days and an injection of streptozotocin (80 mg/kg) on the
6th day. After 5 weeks of study all the rats were sacrificed and coronal sections
were taken from the dorsal hippocampal formation of the right cerebral hemispheres
and stained with cresyl violet. The area densities of the granule cells
were measured and compared in the four groups. The density was lower in the
diabetic rats compared with the controls (p > 0.05). The preventive group
showed lower cell density than the controls (p > 0.05). The densities in the
treated rats were higher than in the diabetic rats (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the
control and treated rats showed similar densities (p > 0.05). It seems that U.
dioica extract can help compensate for granule cell loss in the diabetic rat
dentate gyrus, which can ameliorate cognitive impairment in diabetes. However,
preventive use of the extract showed no significant benefit.
Abstract
Urtica dioica L. Stinging nettle has long been known worldwide as a medicinal
plant. To study the benefits of the nettle in diabetic encephalopathy, the granule
cell density of the dentate gyrus of diabetic rats was studied following
administration of Urtica dioica extract. A total of 24 male albino Wistar rats
were allocated equally to normal, diabetic, preventive and treatment groups.
Hyperglycaemia was induced by streptozotocin (80 mg/kg) in the animals of
the diabetic and treatment groups. One week after injection of the streptozotocin
the animals in the treatment group received a hydroalcoholic extract of
Urtica dioica (100 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks intraperitoneally. The rats of the
preventive group received hydroalcoholic extract of U. dioica (100 mg/kg/day)
IP for the first 5 days and an injection of streptozotocin (80 mg/kg) on the
6th day. After 5 weeks of study all the rats were sacrificed and coronal sections
were taken from the dorsal hippocampal formation of the right cerebral hemispheres
and stained with cresyl violet. The area densities of the granule cells
were measured and compared in the four groups. The density was lower in the
diabetic rats compared with the controls (p > 0.05). The preventive group
showed lower cell density than the controls (p > 0.05). The densities in the
treated rats were higher than in the diabetic rats (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the
control and treated rats showed similar densities (p > 0.05). It seems that U.
dioica extract can help compensate for granule cell loss in the diabetic rat
dentate gyrus, which can ameliorate cognitive impairment in diabetes. However,
preventive use of the extract showed no significant benefit.
Keywords
granule cell density; dentate gyrus; Urtica dioica; diabetes; rat
Title
The granule cell density of the dentate gyrus following administration of Urtica dioica extract to young diabetic rats
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 67, No 3 (2008)
Article type
Original article
Pages
196-204
Published online
2008-06-02
Page views
623
Article views/downloads
1180
DOI
10.5603/fm.v67i3.15973
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2008;67(3):196-204.
Keywords
granule cell density
dentate gyrus
Urtica dioica
diabetes
rat
Authors
S.A. Fazeli
A.M. Gharravi
S. Ghafari
M. Jahanshahi
M.J. Golalipour
About this article