Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder with a well-known neurotoxic effect on peripheral nerves. Hesperidin is a natural flavanone that has an anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.
Aim of the Study: To evaluate the role of hesperidin in ameliorating DM-induced sciatic nerve histological changes in adult male albino rats.
Material and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups; group I as a control group, group II received hesperidin (100 mg/kg/day) orally for 4 weeks and group III was injected once intraperitoneally by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) to induce DM. Then after 4 weeks, diabetic rats were divided into 2 subgroups: subgroup IIIa was left untreated and subgroup IIIb received hesperidin at dose similar to group II for another 4 weeks. Specimens from sciatic nerves were processed for histological, and immunohistochemical studies.
Results: The untreated diabetic group showed severe disorganization and loss of the regular architecture of the nerve fibers inside the sciatic nerve fascicles. A significant decrease in the expression of S100 protein in Schwann cells with a significant elevation in their apoptosis was recorded in comparison to control group. Electron microscopic examination revealed splitting of the myelin sheaths lamellae with some attenuated myelin sheaths. Schwann cells cytoplasm showed numerous vacuoles, dilated rER and swollen disrupted mitochondria. Administration of hesperidin evidently ameliorated all the pervious structural changes.
Conclusion: Hesperidin ameliorated the histological structure alterations that occurred in the sciatic nerve due to DM.