Histological changes in the pancreas following administration of ethanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaf in alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats.

Twenty-four wistar rats weighing between 150 and 170g were used in this research work. They were divided into four groups A, B, C, and D of six rats each. Diabetes was induced in Groups B, C, and D using a single intraperitoneal injection of 150mg/kg of Alloxan after an overnight fast. Group A served as the normal control while Group B served as the diabetic control and each received 0.5ml of normal saline daily. Groups C and D received 250mg/kgbwt/day and 500mg/kg /day of the plant extract respectively through orogastric intubation. All the animals were given normal rat chow and water freely. The experiment lasted for 28 days. The animals were anaesthetized using chloroform inhalation and the peritoneum stripped open and the pancreas removed and prepared for histological observation using haematoxylin and eosin staining technique. Histology showed regenerative changes of pancreatic islet cell at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day.Keywords: Pancreas, Alchornea cordifolia, diabetes mellitus, Wistar rat