Figure 2
Effect of HF/HF/Stz regimen on pancreatic and liver function. During the second phase (week 33), higher levels of plasma fructosamine (A) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; B) are measured. At the end of the experiment (week 56), the number of Langerhans’ islets significantly decreases in HF/HF/Stz rats (C) whereas their size increases drastically (D). Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the Langerhans’ islets are hyperplasic, congestive and hemorrhagic in the HF/HF/Stz group (F, arrowheads) compared to controls (E, scale bar 100 µm). Sirius red F3BA staining indicate the presence of liver fibrosis (Type I and III collagen) in the HF/HF/Stz group (H–I, scale bar 50 µm). Liver steatosis was evaluated by H&E staining in both HF/HF/Stz and control animals (J–K). We noticed the presence of a large number of lipid vacuoles in hepatocytes of HF/HF/Stz rats (arrowheads, L, scale bar 65 µm). Data in (A–D and G) are compared using an exact two-tailed Mann-Whitney U-test because a Gaussian distribution is not assumed here (d’Agostino-Pearson omnibus normality test). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001, compared with normal diet-fed control rats.
