STUDY OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS ) EFFECTS ON HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES OF THE OVARY IN DIABETIC RATS HFD/STZ

Background &Aims: Diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder in the world, which can disrupt ovarian function. The present study was designed to examine the effect of Okra powder on ovary histology in high-fat diet fed-streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) induced diabetic female rats. Materials & Methods: 25 adult Female Wistar rats were divided into 5 equal groups. Group I: (control group): served as helthy rats received normal diets. Group II diabetic(HFD+ STZ): rats were fed HFD (60% fat + 25% carbohydrate + 15% protein ) for 4 weeks and then injected with STZ (35 mg/kg body weight). GroupIII(HFD+STZ+A.E): HFD + STZ rats were treated with 200 mg/kg powder A. esculentus. Group IV (HFD+STZ+metformin): HFD + STZ rats were treated with 200 mg/kg metformin. Group V: Normal Diet + A. esculentus (200 mg/kg). After 4 weeks of treatment, animals were euthanized and body weight, ovary weight and insulin resistance markers (insulin and glucose levels and HOMA-IR) were determined. The right ovary was isolated and floated in appropriate fixative. 5-6 μm sections was prepared as paraffine embedding method and stained by H&E and PAS and studied by light microscopy. Results: Hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and reduced body weight of diabetic rats were improved after administration of Okra for 4 weeks. This effect was relatively similar to metformin. Okra powder was caused a significant increase in primordial, primary and graffian follicles (P