Investigating Oxidative Stress and Histopathological Changes in The Liver of Hyperglycemic Rats

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of hyperglycemia on the liver in rats. Materials and Methods: An experimental diabetes was created by intraperitoneal streptozotocin administration to Sprague-Dawley rats, and blood glucose levels over 250 dl/kg were counted as diabetic. The experiment was continued for 6 weeks, and weight and blood glucose were observed weekly. After sacrification, liver tissues were fixed with formaldehyde and enclosed in paraffin for histological analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was carried out on 4 µm sections taken from paraffin blocks, and the sections were evaluated histopathologically. At the same time, apoptosis was examined immunohistochemically in those sections by active caspase-3 labeling. Finally, oxidative stress status in liver tissue was analyzed by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Results: The results revealed a significant elevation in H2O2 levels and a slight decline in SOD levels in the liver tissues in the hyperglycemia group. Additionally, apoptotic hepatocyte numbers were elevated. Histopathological analysis revealed disrupted lobular structure, dilatation of the central vein and sinusoids, hepatocyte shrinkage, and lymphocytic infiltration in the hyperglycemia group. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of apoptosis and oxidative stress in liver dysfunction caused by diabetes, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies to protect against hyperglycemia-induced liver damage and improve outcomes for diabetic patients.