A histological study on the possible protective role of garlic in diabetes-induced structural changes in the renal cortex of adult male albino rats

IntroductionDiabetes is a common serious metabolic disorder, and it may cause nephropathy.Garlic was experimentally documented to have an antidiabetic potential.Aim of the work:Investigate the possible protective role of garlic in the structural changes of the renal cortex in diabetic male albino rats. Materials and methods:Rats were divided into two main groups; group I included rats that were divided equally into a control group Ia (rats were administered distilled water) and a garlic group Ib (rats were administered 100 mg/kg garlic powder). Group II (diabetic group) included rats in which diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin; then, the rats were divided into two groups: an untreated diabetic group IIa (rats were administered distilled water) and a garlictreated diabetic group IIb (rats were administered 100 mg/kg garlic powder). Results:At the end of the experiment, the rats in the untreated diabetic group showed a nonsignificant change in their body weight and a significant increase in the meanfasting blood glucose by 40.6%. Microscopic examination of the renal cortex showed structural changes in both the proximal convoluted tubules and distal convoluted tubules in the form of a luminal cast, less basal infolding, and fewer basal mitochondria with loss of its cristae. Loss of microvilli of proximal convoluted tubules, extravasation of red blood cells, and a significant increase in the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane were also observed. However, at the end of the experiment, the garlic-treated diabetic group showed a significant increase in body weight by 21.7%, a significant decrease in the mean fasting blood glucose level by 29.6%, and absence of the most of the structural changes of the renal cortex. Conclusion: Garlic could protect against diabetes-induced structural changes in the renal cortex.