Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Zoology & Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol. 2024 Nov;341(9):977-990. doi: 10.1002/jez.2854. Epub 2024 Jul 8.
Myocardial structural and functional abnormalities are hallmarks of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), a chronic consequence of diabetes mellitus (DM). Maternal DM affects and increases the risk of heart defects in diabetic mothers compared with nondiabetic mothers. Momordica charantia exhibits antidiabetic effects due to various bioactive compounds that are phytochemicals, a broad group that includes phenolic compounds, alkaloids, proteins, steroids, inorganic compounds, and lipids. Pregnant maternal rats were split into four groups: control (C), M. charantia-treated (MC), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (DM), and diabetic (MC + DM) groups. Diabetes mothers had increased serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Cardiac biomarkers such as cardiac troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase were increased. Hormone levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and estrogen decreased significantly. Inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were elevated in diabetic mothers. Oxidative stress markers indicated increased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, while antioxidants such as glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were decreased in maternal heart tissue. The levels of apoptotic markers such as tumor suppressor 53 (P) and cysteine aspartic protease-3 (caspase-3) were significantly greater in diabetic maternal heart tissue. Histopathological analysis revealed heart tissue abnormalities in diabetic maternal rats. M. charantia extract improved maternal diabetes-induced changes in inflammation, antioxidant levels, and heart tissue structure.
心肌结构和功能异常是糖尿病心肌病（DCM）的特征，这是糖尿病（DM）的一种慢性后果。与非糖尿病母亲相比，患有糖尿病的母亲会影响并增加胎儿心脏缺陷的风险。苦瓜因含有多种生物活性化合物而具有降血糖作用，这些化合物是植物化学物质，是包括酚类化合物、生物碱、蛋白质、类固醇、无机化合物和脂质在内的一大类物质。将怀孕的母鼠分为四组：对照组（C）、苦瓜处理组（MC）、2 型糖尿病组（DM）和糖尿病组（MC+DM）。糖尿病母亲的血清葡萄糖、胰岛素、总胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平升高，高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平降低。心脏生物标志物如肌钙蛋白 T（cTnT）、肌酸激酶同工酶-心肌带（CK-MB）和乳酸脱氢酶升高。卵泡刺激素、黄体生成素、孕酮和雌激素等激素水平显著降低。炎症标志物如白细胞介素 6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和血管细胞黏附分子-1（VCAM-1）在糖尿病母亲中升高。氧化应激标志物表明丙二醛和一氧化氮水平升高，而谷胱甘肽、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶等抗氧化剂在母鼠心脏组织中减少。肿瘤抑制物 53（P）和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3（caspase-3）等凋亡标志物的水平在糖尿病母鼠的心脏组织中显著增加。组织病理学分析显示糖尿病母鼠的心脏组织异常。苦瓜提取物改善了母体糖尿病引起的炎症、抗氧化剂水平和心脏组织结构变化。
