The Aloe Vera Gel Improves Structural Disorders in the Brain of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Diabetes mellitus can lead to structural disorders in the brain. Aloe vera has antidiabetic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Aloe vera gel on the morphometric changes in the brain of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
25 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including: control (normal saline), diabetic (normal saline), Aloe vera gel (400 mg/kg/day; gavage), diabetic Aloe vera gel (400 mg/kg/day; gavage) and diabetic Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin (10 IU/kg/day; subcutaneous). Experimental diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (60 mg/kg; intraperitoneal). All groups treated for 8 weeks. At the end of treatment course, the rat's brains were removed intact immediately after sacrifice for morphometric measuring by caliper. Histological brain sections were also prepared to assess morphometry of cerebral cortex and hippocampus via ammonium iron (III) sulfate staining.
Findings: Diabetes induction reduced weight and dimensions of brain, and diameters of the hippocampus, and white and gray matter of cerebral cortex compared to the control group after 8 weeks (P The results showed that oral administration of Aloe vera gel in diabetic rats improves structural disorders of brain and ameliorates diabetes-induced hyperglycemia.