Graphical abstract

Background: Taurine is a non protein amino acid found in most animal tissues. It is a powerful antioxidant which shares in combating the harmful effect of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), associated to many chronic diseases as diabetes mellitus (DM). The disease is characterized by hyperglycemia and metabolic disorders in the body that leads to the release of ROS in the cells. Methods: The present work evaluates the biochemical and immunological role of taurine (500 mg/kg bwt) in ameliorating diabetes harm in rats when compared to the effect of the antidiabetic drug (amaryl). Six groups were established for the experiment. Group1: control rats without any supplementations. Group 2 : diabetic non treated rats. Group 3: rats received taurine for three weeks. Group 4: rats were supplemented with taurine for three weeks then injected streptozotocin (STZ) (prophylactic gp). Group 5: rats were injected with STZ then supplemented with taurine for four weeks (therapeutic gp). Group 6: rats were injected STZ then treated with amaryl drug for four weeks. Serum glucose and insulin levels in addition to liver function enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme were determined. ROS effect was monitored in liver tissue by detecting malondialdhyde resulting from lipid peroxidation and detecting glutathione reductase enzyme activity. With respect to the immunological responses, the thymocytes and splenocytes numbers were counted besides measuring serum IgG level. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed in pancreatic sections. Results: showed the ability of taurine in decreasing glucose level and increasing insulin with the same efficacy as amaryl drug besides affecting liver enzymes and improving the antioxidant system in cells. Taurine also restored the decrease in mean number of thymocytes and splenocytes caused by DM. Sera IgG levels from pre-and post-treatment with taurine showed non significant increase compared to the diabetic non treated group. Conclusion: post-treatment supplemention of taurine is recommended for T2DM.

Understanding the relation between the environmental stress factors and the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis efficiency can reduce the susceptibility to thyroid diseases. In our study, thyroid dysfunction was induced in female rats by administration of 40 mg Na F/kg.bd.wt/day for a month. Co-administration of the water extract of Arca noae (300 mg/kg. bw) was tested as a treatment for Na F induced thyroid dysfunction. A group of rats injected Arca noae extract only (300 mg/kg.bd.wt) was performed to observe the impact of the extract on the (HPT) axis in addition to the normal control group. Results showed that there was a significant decrease in serum triglycerides, total protein and albumin levels in the fluoride supplemented group in addition to abnormal levels of TSH, (T4) and (T3) compared to the control group. In the treated group there was an improvement in the proteins level and lipid profile but pseudo-corrected serum (T4) and (T3) levels were observed in addition to a continuous increase in TSH level. Histological findings confirmed the harmful effect of fluoride on both the non treated and the treated groups. Consequently, fluoride supplementation must be considered as a harmful stress that may affect permanently the HPT axis.

This study aimed to observe and report the status and the reaction of the body organs in case of administration of excess iodine. This was achieved by the intraperitoneal injection of KI for female mice. Results showed that the different organs respond to KI administration with different reactions. The thyroid gland expressed a gradual increase in serum thyroid hormones (T4&T3) which was accompanied with a detected significant decrease in serum TSH in addition to an observed histological changes in the thyroid tissue. Liver was the most apparent organ that was affected by excess KI administration followed by the brain through expressing increasing significant T3 levels in tissues compared to control. On the other hand, the heart and the kidneys tissues displayed non significant decrease in T3 levels. The study evaluated some tissue specific enzymes which showed significant biochemical abnormalities in organs' functions. Our data detected the features of a subclinical hyperthyroid case and express the initiation of an iodine induced hyperthyroidism pattern.