Abstract

Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins, leading to chemical modification and cross-linking are of importance in the pathology of diabetic complications. In our early reported we showed that, camel milk possesses antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and exhibit beneficial role on membrane-bound ATPases in streptozotocin-diabetic rats after 45 days of treatment of camel milk at the optimum dose of 250 ml/day. In the present study, the effect of camel milk on the glycation and cross-linking of collagen from tail tendon of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain, weighing 180 to 200 g, by administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The animals were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. Rats of groups II and IV were fed 250 ml of raw camel milk daily through watering bottle instead of water. Whereas animals in groups I, III and V were given tap water, and rats of group V were given 600 μg/kg body weight of glibenclamide orally, once in a day in the morning for 45 days. The levels of hydroxylproline and total collagen content elevated in the tail tendon of the diabetic control. The levels of extent of glycation and fluorescence of collagen increased while decreased levels of acid, neutral and pepsin soluble collagens were observed in the tail tendon of diabetic rats. These changes were alleviated by the simultaneous ingestion of camel milk. Our results demonstrate that intake of camel milk has a positive influence on tail tendon collagen glycation and other variables in STZ-diabetic rats and its effect was comparable with glibenclamide.

Key words: Camel milk, glycation, collagen, streptozotocin, diabetes.