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C-peptide corrects hepatocellular dysfunction in a rat model of type 1 diabetes

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Abstract

C-peptide is gaining much interest recently due to its well-documented beneficial effects on multiple organ dysfunction induced by diabetes. Our study was designed to investigate the effect of C-peptide on hepatocellular dysfunction in diabetic rats. Wistar male rats were separated into four groups: control, diabetic, diabetic + insulin, and diabetic + C-peptide. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, and liver biomarkers were assessed. Liver sections were collected for histopathological examination and immuno-histochemical assessment of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Oxidative stress markers and gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) were also measured in liver tissues. C-peptide administration prevented hepatic dysfunction induced by diabetes to a similar extent as that of insulin which was confirmed microscopically. We concluded that C-peptide could be used as an alternative therapy to insulin to correct hepatocellular dysfunction associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

    Heba A. Abdel-Hamid & Elshymaa A. Abdel-Hakeem

  2. Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

    Nagwa M. Zenhom

  3. Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

    Nisreen D. M. Toni

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  1. Heba A. Abdel-Hamid
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  2. Elshymaa A. Abdel-Hakeem
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  3. Nagwa M. Zenhom
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Correspondence to Heba A. Abdel-Hamid.

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Abdel-Hamid, H.A., Abdel-Hakeem, E.A., Zenhom, N.M. et al. C-peptide corrects hepatocellular dysfunction in a rat model of type 1 diabetes. J Physiol Biochem 76, 417–425 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-020-00748-y

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