Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Ameliorates the Harmful Effects of Dexamethasone Induced Diabetes on Liver and Pancreas of Adult Male Albino Rats

Aims: This study was done to clarify the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the harmful changes of liver and pancreas of adult male albino rats after dexamethasone induced diabetes.

Place of Study: Faculty of medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.

Methodology: Thirty two adult male albino rats were divided into; group I (control), group II (Hyperbaric oxygen treated), Group III (induced diabetes - non treated group) and Group IV (induced diabetes + Hyperbaric oxygen treated group). Induction of diabetes was done by dexamethasone injection for ten days. Hyperbaric oxygen was given once per day for 5 sessions in group II and IV. The rats of all groups were sacrificed after the 20th day. Specimens of liver and pancreas were subjected to microscopic examination.

Results: Rats from group III showed a highly significant increase of blood glucose compared to the controls. Treated rats in group IV showed highly significant decrease in blood glucose compared to group III. Hepatic steatosis and histopathological changes of pancreatic acini and islets of Langerhans were noticed in untreated diabetic rats. Group IV after Hyperbaric oxygen therapy revealed partial improvement of histological and ultrastructural effects of diabetes on the liver and pancreas.

Conclusions: HBOT is partially effective in reducing blood glucose level and improving the hazardous effect of untreated diabetes on the histological and ultrastructural architecture of the liver and pancreas of male albino rats.