Effects of aqueous garlic extract treatment on plasma Glucose, cortisol and electrolytes concentration in male Rattus norvegicus on daily atazanavir therapy

Abstract

Patients with HIV/AIDS now have longer life expectancies, thanks to the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). On the other hand, a high frequency of endocrine and metabolic diseases has been linked to the medications. Cortisol secretion dysregulation has been documented in studies focusing specifically on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Reports of insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and electrolyte abnormalities raise the possibility that the HAART medications may affect the pancreas, kidneys and adrenal glands. Garlic, a popular food additive, has been shown to have hypoglycemic properties and affects how the adrenal gland reacts to stress. This study sought to evaluate the effects of aqueous garlic extract treatment on plasma glucose, cortisol and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride) concentrations in male rats on daily atazanavir therapy (one of the HAART drugs). The study also sought to determine the effects of aqueous garlic extract treatment on the adrenal gland histology in atazanavir-treated and non-treated male laboratory rats. This was a laboratory-based experimental study in which thirty-nine (39) male rats aged 15–18 months weighing 350–400 grams were used. The study was conducted at the University of Eldoret Animal House in the Department of Zoology. The animals, fed on rat pellets and water ad libitum, were randomly divided into three groups, A, B, and C, of thirteen animals each. About 1ml of tail blood was obtained from all the rats in the three groups fortnightly, twice before the treatment, to determine baseline data of all the study parameters. After two weeks, the group A rats served as the control animals and received 1.5 ml of normal saline daily throughout the study. Group B rats received daily atazanavir treatment at 10mg/Kg, and group C rats received a daily atazanavir (10mg/Kg) plus aqueous garlic extract treatment (250mg/kg body weight) from the third week to the end of the study. All treatments were administered through the oral gavage route. Blood sampling (1ml) was continued fortnightly in all the groups for five sessions before the termination of the study. Each bleeding session began with the measurement of blood glucose levels immediately using a glucometer. The remaining blood samples were processed for plasma and stored at -20°C until needed for the measurements of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride ions using an automated hemoanalyzer, and cortisol using an ELISA assay kit. At the end of the study, some of the animals were sacrificed, and the adrenal gland tissues of both control and experimental rats were carefully harvested, sectioned, and processed for histological examination. All values were expressed as mean levels ± SEM. One way ANOVA test at P<0.05 significance level was used to compare the means of all the parameters between the three experimental groups. Atazanavir therapy caused increased mean glucose concentration in the blood, which declined with garlic treatment. Atazanavir therapy caused increased mean cortisol concentration in blood, while garlic reduced the mean blood cortisol level. Atazanavir therapy caused hypokalemia, while garlic improved potassium concentration in the blood and restored it to its normal range. Atazanavir therapy and garlic treatment in this study showed slight comparison effect on the mean plasma chloride level. Atazanavir therapy caused hypocalcaemia, while garlic treatment increased the calcium ion concentration and reversed the hypocalcaemia to its normal range. Atazanavir caused hyponatremia. Garlic treatment caused increased mean plasma sodium ion concentration and normalized the sodium level in blood. Atazanavir therapy caused metabolic changes in the zona fasciculata cells with foamy cytoplasm of the adrenal gland. Garlic did not reverse the metabolic changes.