Valproic Acid Improves Glucose Homeostasis by Increasing Beta-Cell Proliferation, Function, and Reducing its...

Recent evidence highlighted that there is a link between type-1 diabetes mellitus and histone deacetylases (HDACs) due to their involvement in beta-cell differentiation, proliferation, and function. The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of valproic acid (VPA) on beta-cell proliferation, function, and apoptosis in juvenile diabetic rat. Diabetes was induced in juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozotocin (75 mg/kg, i.p.) and VPA was administered at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks by oral route. Various biochemical parameters, cellular alterations, and protein expression as well as apoptosis were assessed using different assays. VPA treatment significantly decreased plasma glucose, beta-cell damage, and apoptosis as well as increased the beta-cell function, insulin level/expression. The present study demonstrated that VPA improves beta-cell proliferation and function as well as reduces beta-cell apoptosis through HDAC inhibition. Our findings provide evidence that VPA may be useful for the treatment of juvenile diabetes.