"Histological and Immunohistochemical Study of the Protective Effect of Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors on Streptozotocin Induced Pancreatic Damage In Adult Male Albino Rats"

Background: SGLT2 inhibitor is a type of medication prescribed for treatment of type 2 diabetes. By prevention the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys, these drugs facilitate glucose removal through urine. Aim: Investigate protective effect SGLT2 inhibitors on pancreatic damage induced by streptozotocin. Materials and Methods: Study involved forty adult male albino rats; they were divided into four groups. Group I: consisted of 10 rats administered three ml distilled water orally once daily. Group II: This group included 10 rats administered Jardiance (Empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor) at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, dissolved in drinking water for 28 days. Group III: This group included 10 rats fasted for 12 hours before receiving a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally to induce pancreatic damage. Group IV: This group included 10 rats that received Jardiance (Empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor) at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, dissolved in drinking water for 14 days before STZ injection. Then, rats were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and continued to receive the daily dose of Jardiance for 14 days. At end of the experiment (28 days), pancreatic tissue samples were collected for H&E staining and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: Degenerative changes were observed in the pancreas of Group III. Protection with SGLT2 inhibitors attenuated degenerative effects, demonstrating a protective effect on pancreatic tissue. Conclusion: SGLT2 inhibitors effectively attenuate the degenerative effects induced by streptozotocin in the pancreas. These results suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors offer a therapeutic strategy for protecting pancreatic tissue.