World Journal of Medical Sciences 4 (2): 70-73, 2009 ISSN 1817-3055 © IDOSI Publications, 2009 Corresponding Author: M. Hashemi, Department of Genetics, Islamic Azad University, Tehran medical Branch, Tehran, Iran 70 Influence of Aloxanes on the Apoptosis of Pancreas B-Cells of Rat M. Hashemi, Y. Dostar, S.R. Rohani, A.R. Azizi Saraji and Mansour Bayat 1 2 3 3 4 Department of Genetics, Islamic Azad University, Tehran medical Branch, Tehran, Iran 1 Department of Pathology, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran 2 Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, 3 Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Department of medical and Veterinay Mycology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, 4 Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Abstract: inducing the production if free radicals of oxygen (ROS), aloxan mediate in toxicity of B-cells. Radicals also result in apoptotic death of cells. This study aimed to examine the role of aloxan in apoptosis. In this experimental study, some rats, were divided divided into four groups of 5. In treatment group, they received 135, 90 or 45 mg/kg body weigh, intra peritoneum injection, of aloxan and control groups received only normal saline. 48 h after injection, pancreas tissue of controls and treatments were sampled and sent for sectioning in 5-6 microns and applying Tunel method. before sacrificing rats, their blood were sampled in intervals of 12, 24, 36 and 48 after injection, to measure blood sugar. Laboratory studies of treatments indicate various forms of apoptotic cells and their blood sugar was higher than controls such that the mean of apoptotic cells in five microscopic field of samples treated by aloxan with three dosages was significantly more than control groups (p<0.001). The role of aloxan induction in apoptosis is unknown but it may be due to free radicals of oxygen resulted from its injection. Key words: Aloxan Apoptosis Pancreas B-cells INTRODUCTION Aloxan is obtained from uric acid in a powder shape form pink color and can be easily solved in water. This drug mainly used in cancers of pancreas tissue and in studies as diabetic drug and specifically influence on pancreas B-cells [1]. Table 1 reveals some brief data of chemical structure of this drug. Aloxan induces diabetes in animals; however it is not known how it can affect these cells. There are so many interpretations for this; results of some studies indicate the main role of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide in the mechanism of aloxan toxicity, but the influence of hydroxyl radical has not been yet verified. Due to structural similarities with glucose, aloxan and streptosotocin can link to B-cells or enter such cells using by-passes of glucose receptors. These are drugs which demolishing B-cells selectively; thus they are used as a suitable device to make experimental diabetes. Aloxan also produces activated species of oxygen only in the pancreas islands [2-5]. Table 1: Chemical properties of aloxan * 2,4,5,6(1H,3H)- Pyrimidinetetrone monohydrate Chemical name CHNO Chemical formula 4 4 2 2 160.09g/mol Molecular weight 253°C Melting point o°C Boiling point Previous studies indicated that treating lab rats with calcium antagonist drugs like Lanthanum and verapamil can inhibit hyperglycemia resulting from injecting aloxans. Aloxan increases free calcium in cytosol of pancreas B-cells and its diabetic role may be related to intra cytosol calcium. Free radicals of oxygen result in DNA fragmentation and damage DNA and divide poly adenosine di phosphate ribose polymerase (PARP) into two parts 89 and 24 kdal by which cell can not