Expression Profiling of Pdx1, Ngn3, and MafA in the Liver and Pancreas of Recovering Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Studies in animal diabetic models have demonstrated the possibility of islet regeneration through treatment with natural extracts, such as Allium sativum (garlic). This study aimed to investigate the effect of garlic extract (GE) on the expression of three genes (Ngn3, Pdx1, and MafA) in the pancreas and liver of diabetic rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into two groups, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (n = 16) and healthy rats (n = 16). Both groups were subdivided into GE-treated (n = 8), and those administered 0.9% normal saline (NS) (n = 8) for 1 week (n = 4) and 8 weeks (n = 4). In the pancreas of diabetic rats treated with GE for 1 week, all three genes, Ngn3, Pdx1, and MafA, were significantly upregulated (p ≤ 0.01, p ≤ 0.05, and p ≤ 0.001, respectively) when compared to diabetic rats treated with NS only. However, after eight weeks of GE treatment, the expression of all three genes decreased as blood insulin increased. In the liver, only Pdx1 expression significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased after 8 weeks. The significant expression of Ngn3, Pdx1, and MafA in the pancreas by week 1 may have induced the maturation of juvenile β-cells, which escaped the effects of STZ and caused an increase in serum insulin.