Effects of Hirudotherapy in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Male Rats: Histopathological and Biochemical Changes

Background: Hirudotherapy is very common in traditional Iranian medicine for treating various diseases, including hyperglycemia. However, there is no scientific research to evaluate its effect on diabetes mellitus and the possible side effects. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and histopathological changes in healthy and diabetic male rats treated with leeches. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 28 male Albino Wistar rats randomly divided into control, diabetic, and two treatment groups (control and diabetic rats treated with Hirudo medicinalis). Hirudotherapy was done in 3 to 5 minutes every 5 days for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, blood glucose, biochemical activity of the liver, kidney, and serum lipid enzymes were evaluated by enzymatic methods. Pathological changes in liver, kidney, and pancreas tissues were studied in the experimental groups. Results: The levels of blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine (Cr), urea, and phosphorus significantly increased in diabetic rats treated with leeches compared to the control group (P 0.05). In addition, liver tissue changes, such as hyperemia, degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrous tissue formation in the portal area, were observed in diabetic rats treated with leeches. Furthermore, renal tissue changes, including renal tubular degeneration and infiltration of inflammatory cells between renal tubules, were also observed in these rats. Conclusions: Leech therapy is not beneficial for alloxan-induced diabetic rats and further may cause hepatotoxicity and acute renal failure.