ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Objective. In this study we investigated the effect of dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) neuropeptide Y (NPY) knock-down on hepatic insulin sensitivity in high-fat (HF) diet-fed rats. Methods. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive bilateral DMH injections of adeno-associated virus AAVshNPY or AAVshCTL and then accessed to regular chow. Five weeks after viral injection, half rats in each group were given access to the HF diet. At 16 weeks, rat livers were collected. Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) mRNA expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Blood glucose levels were measured by the oxidase method, serum insulin, triglyceride, and TC levels were measured by Elisa. Pathological changes in the liver were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. AKT, p-AKT, and GSK-3 levels were measured by western blotting. Results. Compared with AAVshCTL-injected rats, AAVshNPY-injected rats showed a significant decrease in blood glucose concentrations; serum insulin, triglyceride, and TC; HOMA-IR; and IRS-1 and PI3K mRNA levels (P<0.05). ISI, GSK-3, and p-AKT levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). HE staining showed that AAVshNPYinjected rats fed the HF diet had mild fatty degeneration. Conclusion. These results suggest that DMH NPY knock-down improves hepatic insulin sensitivity in HF diet-fed rats by activating the hepatic PI3K/AKT insulin signalling pathway.

Background. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with high frequency of obstetric complications, such as gestosis, polyhydramnios, urogenital infection, premature birth. An increase in the number of cases of detection of GDM in pregnant women living in Kazakhstan is noted recently. Objective. This research was carried out in order to see the influence of GDM on the course of the third trimester of pregnancy, outcomes and fetal status in women of Kazakh ethnic group. Research design. Cohort observational study. Subjects and Methods. The main group of research consisted of 61 pregnant women with GDM (Meanage= 32.8±6.314), the control group included 39 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (Meanage=30±5.432 years). The pregnant women in both groups were examined by calculation of body mass index (BMI), determination of fasting plasma glucose and the system of hemostasis. Also, the fetal ultrasound was implemented and the uterineplacental, fetal-placental blood flow were evaluated using the Doppler mode. Results. In the main group initial BMI was equal to Mean=31.1±7.433 kg/m2; we revealed manifestation of gestational hypertension in 36.1%, 95%CI (2.52, 48.6); preeclampsia was diagnosed in 14.8% (95%CI (8; 25.7); the disorders of uteroplacental and fetoplacental blood flow recorded significantly more frequently in main group RR=6.393, 95%CI (1.581-25.840), like the diabetic fetopathy RR=5.115, 95%CI (1.240-21.033). The premature delivery, the prevalence of induction of delivery and intranatal trauma were significantly more frequent in women with GDM. Conclusions. GDM significantly worsens course of gestation.

Background. To investigate the association between inflammatory factors, such as complete blood count (CBC) components, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods. A total of 635 pregnant women with GDM and 296 with normal pregnancies at 7–13 weeks of gestation who underwent prenatal examinations in the obstetrics department were enrolled (June 2020–December 2020). CBC parameters, including WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte (LYM), monocyte (MON), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelet (PLT), platelet accumulation (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), NLR, MLR, PLR, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and other parameters were assessed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the screening effects of the variables on the development of GDM. Results. There were significant differences in the blood levels of WBC, NEU, LYM, MON, RBC, HGB, PCT, ALT, AST, GGT, NLR, and MLR between the GDM and control groups (P<0.05). The diagnostic level of MON was the highest among all factors. Conclusion. Inflammatory factors (WBC, NEU, LYM, MON, NLR, and MLR counts) were correlated with GDM.

Introduction. Insulin resistance or dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells represents one of the important worldwide endocrine disease challenges. In fact, vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) is involved in the pathogenesis of one of the most significant causes of diabetes-induced morbidity; diabetic nephropathy (DN). Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is one among other incriminating mechanisms of VED. The aim of this study was to assess whether ADMA modulation could be achieved by taurine or rosiglitazone, and whether they could improve tubulo-interstitial ischemia and subsequent renal damage in experimental DN in rats. Material and methods. 40 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: normal saline-injected control, diabetic control induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg), and two diabetic groups daily treated orally with rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg) and taurine (500 mg/kg) respectively, for 12 weeks after STZ injection. Results. Both rosiglitazone and taurine treatments significantly decreased fasting blood glucose, renal functions (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, albuminuria), and renal oxidant potential (Malondialdehyde), as well as, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). They also significantly improved renal antioxidant capacity (reduced glutathione) and histopathological changes. Furthermore, taurine significantly diminished serum ADMA, while rosiglitazone showed no significant effect. Conclusion. The present study suggests that the treatment with rosiglitazone or taurine can reduce the progression of renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats by different mechanisms. However, reducing ADMA could be a potential therapeutic target.