Attenuated Effects of Deep-Sea Water on Hepatic Apoptosis in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

Chin J Physiol. 2015 Jun 30;58(3):197-205. doi: 10.4077/CJP.2015.BAD308.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder and increasing evidences have indicated a connection between DM and hepatic abnormality. Deep-sea water (DSW) has been applied in many fields, especially in medicine; herein, we investigated the influence of DSW on hepatic apoptosis in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes rats. Our experimental results firstly demonstrated the beneficial effects of 1×DSW, 2×DSW and 3×DSW in alleviating hepatic apoptosis in STZ-induced diabetic rats. We demonstrated that 1×DSW, 2×DSW and 3×DSW significantly suppressed the caspase-3 activity and TUNEL-positive cells in livers of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Significant reductions of both Fas-dependent and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic molecules were also detected in livers of STZ-induced diabetic rats receiving DSW. Additionally, apoptotic signaling molecules such as phosphorylated IκB-α and NF-κB were significantly reduced in livers of DSW-treated STZ-induced diabetic rats. These findings indicate hepatic protective effects of DSW on DM and suggest DSW as a possible ingredient for health food.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology*
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mitochondria, Liver / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seawater*
  • Streptozocin
  • Transcription Factor RelA / physiology
  • fas Receptor / physiology

Substances

  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • fas Receptor
  • Streptozocin