Comparative study on the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells versus platelet rich plasma on the pancreas of adult male albino rats with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: The optimal treatment for autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is endogenous regeneration of the pancreatic beta-cell. This can be achieved either by transplanting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) or injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Current research reviewed a T1DM model and compared the effect of BMSCs on exocrine and endocrine pancreas portions versus PRP. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into four groups: Control group, Diabetic group (single streptozotocin dose 60 mg/kg IP), Diabetic + PRP group (PRP 0.5 mL/kg SC twice weekly/4 weeks given to diabetic rats) and Diabetic + BMSCs group (1 mLof PKH26 labelled MSCssuspension in buffer phosphatesolution, 3 x 10(6) cells/mL IV to diabetic rats). Glucose, amylase and lipase levels were calculated and pancreases were designed for light, electron microscopic, immunohistochemistiy, morphometry and statistical analysis. Results: Diabetic rats exhibited elevated glucose, decreased amylase and lipase compared to control rats. In addition, variable histological degenerative changes in the form of congested blood vessels have been identified with a significant increase in the mean area percentage of collagen, a significant decrease in the diameter of the islets, the number of cells in the islets of Langerhans and the number of zymogen granules. Ultrastructural findings exhibited distorted Golgi apparatus morphology, degenerated mitochondria, pyknotic nuclei, and few secretory beta-cell granules. Conclusions: Administration of BMSCs to diabetic group significantly increased the number of cells and diameter of Langerhans islets and the number of zymogen granules compared to Diabetic group as well as Diabetic + PRP group. BMSCs could be considered more efficient than PRP in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.