The effect of resveratrol on visfatin/sirt-1 signaling pathway of pancreas and muscle tissues in diabetes induced rats

Diabetes, described as the failure of insulin production or utilization mechanisms in the body, is a noteworthy health problem which could be also the reason of some various secondary complications arising from the disruptions. Oxidative stress has been reported as one of the most effective major factors in the occurrence of diabetic complications. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic antioxidant and specifically exists in high rates in grapes. The objective of this study is to determine the efficiency of resveratrol on body weight, blood glucose, lipid peroxidation factor malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, the muscle and pancreas expressions of pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor [PBEF/ Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)/Visfatin], Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), glucose transporters (GLUT2, GLUT4) and insulin in streptozotocin (STZ) induced rats. In this study; male Wistar-albino rats (n = 40, 8 weeks old) were divided randomly to 4 groups. Groups: Standard diet-fed and saline (0.9% NaCl 1ml/kg ip every day) treated group was assigned as the Control group; second group was administered resveratrol and saline (20 mg / kg ip bwt) and assigned as the Resveratrol group; third group was given streptozotocin (STZ single dose, 55 mg / kg ip) and saline alone and assigned as STZ group; the last group was given streptozotocin and treated with resveratrol and assigned as STZ+Resveratrol group. The experiment continued for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, body weights decreased in STZ group compared to controls and increased when treated with resveratrol (P < 0.001). Blood glucose levels raised over time in STZ injected group and resveratrol treatment slowed down this increase (P < 0.05). Serum MDA levels increased in STZ group and it was observed that treating with resveratrol approximated the MDA levels to the control group (P < 0.001). PBEF/NAMPT/Visfatin, SIRT1, GLUT2 and GLUT4 expressions of muscle and pancreas tissues were decreased in STZ group when compared to the Control group and increased in STZ+Resveratrol group when compared to STZ (P < 0.05). The translational level of Insulin protein decreased in pancreatic tissue of STZ group whereas it was increased in STZ+Resveratrol group (P < 0.001). According to this study, it is concluded that, resveratrol treatment on STZ-induced diabetic rats is able to reduce lipid peroxidation, improved PBEF/NAMPT/Visfatin and indirectly SIRT1 pathway, has beneficial effects on glucose transporters, partially increased insulin expression and thus showed supportive and alleviating feature in diabetes complications and treatment. Keywords: Diabetes, Resveratrol, Visfatin, Sirtuin, Glut2, Glut4, Insulin, Rat