Research Article

The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Volume: 26 Number: 2 June 28, 2025
  • Asija Začiragić
  • Višnja Muzika
  • Amina Valjevac
  • Amela Dervišević
  • Maja Mitrašinović-brulić
  • Muhamed Focak
  • Esad ćosović
  • Selma Aličelebić
  • Samra čustović
  • Damir Suljevic *

The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore possible protective effects of vitamin D3 on serum glucose concentration, body weight and histopathology of pancreas and liver. Animals were divided into 3 groups: Control group (n=6), streptozotocin (STZ) group (n=6) and streptozotocin + vitamin D3 (STZ+D3) group (n=6). Rats in the STZ+D3 group starting from the 7th day of experiment were given vitamin D3 for 14 days. Glucose levels and body weight were measured on the 1, 7, 14 and 21st day of experiment. Qualitative histological analysis of pancreas and liver was done using the light microscope with a digital camera. Differences between the groups were tested by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett's posttest. Differences in repeated measures were tested using paired t-test. On day 14 and 21, blood glucose level in STZ+D3 group was significantly higher compared to the control group of animals but significantly lower than the glucose level registered in STZ group of rats. On day 14 and day 21, body weight in STZ rats was significantly lower compared to weight in STZ+D3 and control groups of rats. Morphological changes, such as shrinkage of islets, vacuolation of both endocrine and exocrine cells, were observed in pancreas of STZ group of animals but were nearly absent in STZ+D3 rats. Similarly, STZ+D3 group of rats showed preserved liver histoarchitecture. Obtained results suggest that vitamin D3 treatment reduces hyperglycemia, exerts beneficial effects on body weight and alleviates histopathological changes in pancreas and liver in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Asija Začiragić This is me
0000-0002-3293-4698
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Višnja Muzika This is me
0000-0003-4773-9390
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amina Valjevac This is me
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amela Dervišević This is me
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Maja Mitrašinović-brulić This is me
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Muhamed Focak
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Esad ćosović This is me
0000-0003-0481-264X
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Selma Aličelebić This is me
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Samra čustović This is me
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Publication Date

June 28, 2025

Submission Date

September 6, 2021

Acceptance Date

February 1, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 26 Number: 2

APA
Začiragić, A., Muzika, V., Valjevac, A., Dervišević, A., Mitrašinović-brulić, M., Focak, M., ćosović, E., Aličelebić, S., čustović, S., & Suljevic, D. (2025). The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 26(2), 325-333. https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF
AMA
1.Začiragić A, Muzika V, Valjevac A, et al. The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;26(2):325-333. https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF
Chicago
Začiragić, Asija, Višnja Muzika, Amina Valjevac, et al. 2025. “The Protective Effects of Vitamin D3 on Histopathology of Pancreas and Liver in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 26 (2): 325-33. https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF.
EndNote
Začiragić A, Muzika V, Valjevac A, Dervišević A, Mitrašinović-brulić M, Focak M, ćosović E, Aličelebić S, čustović S, Suljevic D (June 1, 2025) The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 26 2 325–333.
IEEE
[1]A. Začiragić et al., “The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 325–333, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF
ISNAD
Začiragić, Asija - Muzika, Višnja - Valjevac, Amina - Dervišević, Amela - Mitrašinović-brulić, Maja - Focak, Muhamed - ćosović, Esad - Aličelebić, Selma - čustović, Samra - Suljevic, Damir. “The Protective Effects of Vitamin D3 on Histopathology of Pancreas and Liver in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 26/2 (June 1, 2025): 325-333. https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF.
JAMA
1.Začiragić A, Muzika V, Valjevac A, Dervišević A, Mitrašinović-brulić M, Focak M, ćosović E, Aličelebić S, čustović S, Suljevic D. The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;26:325–333.
MLA
Začiragić, Asija, et al. “The Protective Effects of Vitamin D3 on Histopathology of Pancreas and Liver in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 26, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 325-33, https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF.
Vancouver
1.Asija Začiragić, Višnja Muzika, Amina Valjevac, Amela Dervišević, Maja Mitrašinović-brulić, Muhamed Focak, Esad ćosović, Selma Aličelebić, Samra čustović, Damir Suljevic. The protective effects of vitamin D3 on histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;26(2):325-33. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA33ZB54NF