key: cord-0074781-quoy97to
authors: Gonçalves, Meline Gomes; Medeiros, Matheus Anselmo; de Lemos, Licyanne Ingrid Carvalho; de Fátima Campos Pedrosa, Lucia; de Andrade Santos, Pedro Paulo; Abreu, Bento João; Lima, João Paulo Matos Santos
title: Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Histopathological and Biochemical Parameters in the Kidney and Pancreas of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
date: 2022-01-19
journal: Nutrients
DOI: 10.3390/nu14030431
sha: e1236937fc5eaf3ed22277dee0de8af7ec2b3205
doc_id: 74781
cord_uid: quoy97to

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a worldwide health concern, and projections state that cases will reach 578 million by 2030. Adjuvant therapies that can help the standard treatment and mitigate DM effects are necessary, especially those using nutritional supplements to improve glycemic control. Previous studies suggest creatine supplementation as a possible adjuvant therapy for DM, but they lack the evaluation of potential morphological parameters alterations and tissue injury caused by this compound. The present study aimed to elucidate clinical, histomorphometric, and histopathological consequences and the cellular oxidative alterations of creatine supplementation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 DM rats. We could estimate whether the findings are due to DM or the supplementation from a factorial experimental design. Although creatine supplementation attenuated some biochemical parameters, the morphological analyses of pancreatic and renal tissues made clear that the supplementation did not improve the STZ-induced DM1 injuries. Moreover, creatine-supplemented non-diabetic animals were diagnosed with pancreatitis and showed renal tubular necrosis. Therefore, even in the absence of clinical symptoms and unaltered biochemical parameters, creatine supplementation as adjuvant therapy for DM should be carefully evaluated.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease and a worldwide health concern. In 2019, the estimated number of cases was 463 million, and recent reports project that this number will reach 578 million by 2030, or even 700 million by 2045. A hyperglycemic state characterizes DM, usually due to a reduction in circulating insulin levels or a deficit in the tissue effects of this hormone, or both [1, 2] . This reduction occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin or when the body cannot use it efficiently [3, 4] . The most prevalent types are type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM, respectively). T1DM accounts for 5-10% of cases, and Brazil ranks third in the world for new and existing patients of this type [2] . It is characterized by impaired insulin production due to the After fasting for fourteen hours, the groups D and DCr received a single dose intraperitoneal injection of STZ (40 mg/kg) dissolved in 10 mM sodium citrate buffer, pH 4.5, for diabetes induction [39] . After seven days, we measured fasting blood levels, retrieved from the tail vein with the aid of a portable glucometer (ONETOUCH ® ULTRA ® ) to confirm induction. Animals with blood glucose greater than 250 mg/dL were considered diabetic.

The CCr and DCr groups received creatine supplementation through isocaloric solid ration in the following two phases: the saturation phase, five days before DM1 induction, and the maintenance phase, during the thirty-five days of the experiment, with 13% and 2% (g/kg of feed) creatine monohydrate, respectively [28, [40] [41] [42] . Then, based on the daily-measured feed consumption, the percentage of creatine contained in the different phases (saturation and maintenance) for the CCr and DCr groups, and the number of animals in these groups, we calculated the creatine consumption (g) per animal per day and the creatine consumption (g) per Kg of animal. These doses correspond to about 13.5-15 g kg −1 and about 2.4-4.2 g kg −1 , during the saturation and maintenance phases, respectively. We based the used creatine-supplementation levels on the ones reported elsewhere [42] [43] [44] [45] , considering that rats have a basal metabolic rate (BMR) about 6.4 times greater than humans [42, 46] .

On the forty-first day of the experiment, the animals were anesthetized with isoflurane and euthanized by thoracotomy. We retrieved blood samples by hepatic portal vein puncture to analyze the following biochemical parameters: aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting glucose, urea, and creatinine. In addition, the pancreas and kidneys were collected and stored in buffered formalin (10% v/v) for later morphological analysis. We also retrieved kidney tissues samples to assess antioxidant responses and cellular oxidative status parameters. The Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte state (CEUA-UFRN, Natal/RN) approved the present study under protocol No. 030.025/2017.

Capillary blood glucose was checked weekly through the tail vein with a portable glucometer (ONETOUCH ® ULTRA ® ). In addition, at the end of the experiment, we analyzed the concentrations of glucose, serum creatinine, and urea, AST, and ALT levels from hepatic portal vein blood samples. After 6 h of storage in test tubes, we centrifuged the blood samples (5000× g) for 15 min to collect the serum. Specific colorimetric enzymatic tests were used to quantify each parameter (Labtest, Lagoa Santa, MG, Brazil), following the manufacturer's protocol, and we measured absorbance values using a spectrophotometer.

The pancreas and kidney stored in buffered formalin (10%) were dehydrated after 24 h in an increasing alcoholic series (70%, 80%, and 90%), diaphanized in xylol, impregnated, and embedded in histological paraffin. Subsequently, using a microtome, we sectioned 5 µm fragments and stretched them on a glass slide, and stained them with routine staining (hematoxylin and eosin). The kidneys samples were also stained with PAS. After covering with a coverslip, we analyzed the slides under a light microscope. The analysis was performed at Instituto Santos Dumont (ISD) using a binocular microscope from the manufacturer Carl Zeiss (Axio Imager.Z2) with a camera attached from the same manufacturer (AxioCam MRc5). We scanned the slides in 6 fields on both the y and x-axis, totaling 36 fields for each slide, using the Stereo Investigator ® software from MBF Bioscience. Then, to perform tissue histomorphometry, the ImageJ 1.52a program (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) was used to count and measure the areas, in mm 2 , of the pancreatic islets and renal glomeruli.

The evaluation of tissue damage, through histopathological analyses, was performed blindly by an expert pathologist using a score (0: absent, 1: mild, 2: moderate, 3: intense for each histopathological finding), who observed signs of damage, such as parenchymal atrophy, pancreatic duct alteration, ductal ectasia, fibrosis, acinar destruction, adipose replacement, hyperemia, pancreatic islet hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltrate and necrosis in the pancreas laminae. We evaluated renal injury by the following parameters: signs of thickening of the basement membrane, glomerular ischemia, glomerular and arteriolar hyalinosis, intercapillary glomerulosclerosis, inflammatory infiltrate, proteic, necrotic, atrophic, and hypertrophic tubules.

Total soluble proteins from renal tissues were extracted using 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 1 mM L-ascorbic acid and 0.1 mM EDTA, following centrifugation at 13,000× g (Hettich Centrifuge. Model MI-KRO 200R. Tuttlingen, Germany) for 20 min at 4 • C. The supernatant was filtered and collected as the total soluble protein fraction and stored at −20 • C. We used the method described by BRADFORD (1976) to estimate the concentration of total soluble proteins [47] .

We measured catalase (CAT) activity (EC 1.11.1.6) by the hydrogen peroxide absorbance at 240 nm for 5 min [48] , using a UV-spectrophotometer (Amersham Biosciences. Model: Ultrospec 2100 pro. Cambridge, UK). The enzyme activity was calculated from the consumption of H 2 O 2 , using the molar extinction coefficient of 40 mM −1 cm −1 , calculated under the same conditions. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (EC 1.15.1.1) was determined by inhibiting the reduction in NBT (Nitroblue tetrazolium) by the protein extract, thus preventing the formation of the chromophore. We carried out the essay on a 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), with 0.1 mM EDTA, 13 mM L-methionine, and 75 µM of NBT. The reaction started after adding riboflavin and transferring the reaction to a chamber illuminated by a fluorescent lamp for 1 min and then read at 560 nM in a spectrophotometer (Femto 700 plus-São Paulo, SP, Brazil). We determined the activity by calculating the amount of extract that inhibited 50% of NBT reduction and expressed it as activity unit (AU) g −1 FM min −1 [49] . The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (EC 1.11.1. 9) was determined in potassium phosphate buffer 50 mM, pH 7.0, containing 10 U/mL glutathione reductase (GR), 1 µM reduced glutathione (GSH), 250 nM nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and H 2 O 2 at 2.5%. We measured the reactions at 340 nm every 30 s for 5 min.

Kidney samples were ground in a mortar with liquid nitrogen and transferred to 1% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solution with 0.5% activated carbon. Each mixture was centrifuged at 13,000× g at 4 • C for 25 min (Hettich Centrifuge. Model MIKRO 200R. Tuttlingen, Germany), and the supernatant was collected and stored for further assays [50] .

The H 2 O 2 content of the samples was measured using the TCA extracts through the specific reaction of H 2 O 2 with potassium iodide (KI) [51] . We performed the assay on 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, in the presence of 1 M KI solution added to the extracts and put in the dark for 1 h, and measured the absorbance at 390 nm in a spectrophotometer (Amersham Biosciences. Model: Ultrospec 2100 pro. Cambridge, England) against a reference blank composed of 1% TCA replacing the tissue extract. The H 2 O 2 content was calculated using a standard reaction curve, and we expressed the results in µmol H 2 O 2 . g −1 FM. Lipid peroxidation was measured using the TBARS method, using the molar extinction coefficient of 155 mM −1 cm −1 for the MDA-TBA complex and the results were expressed as nmol g −1 FM [52] .

The content of soluble thiols was determined using the colorimetric method of Ellman (1959) and Riddles (1979) [53, 54] , by the proteic sulfhydryl groups (SH) reaction with 5,5dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), following reads at 412 nm. The total thiol content of each sample was determined from a cysteine standard curve and expressed as µM/mg protein cysteine equivalents. 

We estimated carbonyl derivatives by reacting to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), generating hydrazone, following absorbance reads at 370 nm [55] . The results were expressed in nmol of carbonylated protein per mg of protein. We used the molar extinction coefficient of DNPH (22,000 M −1 cm −1 ) to calculate the content of incorporated DNPH.

During the experiment, one animal from each diabetic group (D and DCr) died. Thus, these groups had n = 7 each for analysis. All data were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). A normality test was performed for the data using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. We used the one-way ANOVA parametric test, followed by Tukey's post-test for multiple comparisons. We used two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-test for repeated measures, such as water and feed consumption. p values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.

Based on the daily feed consumption, we estimated the average creatine dose per animal in the supplemented groups. The CCr group consumed an average of 3.38 ± 0.13 and 0.56 ± 0.04 g of creatine/animal/day, respectively, in the saturation and maintenance phases. The DCr group consumed an average of 3.33 ± 0.15 and 0.79 ± 0.04 g of creatine/animal/day, respectively, in the saturation and maintenance phases. There was no significant difference between the CCr and DCr groups in creatine consumption in both phases. Regarding water consumption and feed ( Figure 1A ,B), we observed that D and DCr groups presented polydipsia and polyphagia after diabetes confirmation (p < 0.001). In both parameters, there was no significant difference between the supplemented and unsupplemented animals. The evolution of the weight gain percentage ( Figure 1C ) demonstrated weight gain for groups C and CCr during the experiment, while groups D and DCr lost weight significantly (p < 0.001). As expected, the diabetic groups had significantly increased blood glucose when compared to controls (p < 0.001) at the end of the experiment (Figure 2A) . However, the DCr group blood glucose levels were significantly lower than those observed for the D group (p < 0.05). Although we did not observe significant changes in serum creatinine concentrations among all experimental groups ( Figure 2B ), there was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in serum urea levels in groups D and DCr compared to the non-diabetic ones ( Figure 2C ). The DCr group had significantly lower (p < 0.001) serum urea concentrations than the D group, similar to the fasting blood glucose. Serum levels of AST ( Figure 2D ) and ALT ( Figure 2E ) were also analyzed. The former parameter did not vary significantly between groups. Diabetic groups presented significant increases (p < 0.001) in ALT levels, though the creatine-supplemented one had significantly lower ALT concentrations (p < 0.01) compared to the D group. All of these results validate the experimental model and treatment protocol used. 

We divided the morphological analyses into histomorphometry and histopathological parameters. Regarding histomorphometry, the creatine-supplemented diabetic animals (DCr group) did not present significant differences in the number of pancreatic islets when compared to the C and CCr groups (p > 0.05) ( Figure 3A ). However, both diabetic groups (D and DCr) showed a significant reduction in the area of the pancreatic islets when compared to non-diabetic ones (p < 0.001). Even so, creatine supplementation seems to lessen the effects on the islets since the reduction in their area was significantly smaller in the DCr group compared to the D group ( Figure 3B ).

As for the histopathological analysis, there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between the groups for parenchymal atrophy (p = 0.2468), pancreatic duct changes (p = 0.4682), and islet hyperplasia (p = 0.1012), although we observed these alterations in some animals ( Figure 3C -F).

As for the findings of acinar destruction, ductal ectasia, and fibrosis, there was a significant difference for groups D and DCr in all these parameters compared to group C ( Figure 4 ). Animals in groups D and DCr had a more significant number of areas with destroyed serous acini (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) when compared to C and CCr groups ( Figure 4A ).

As for ductal ectasia and fibrosis ( Figure 4B ,C), we observed a similar pattern when comparing the groups, in which the animals in groups C and CCr did not differ from each other. However, the creatine-supplemented control group showed more areas with these histological findings, resulting in a non-significant difference from group D. Still, for ductal ectasia ( Figure 4B ), the groups D and DCr did not differ statistically, while for fibrosis ( Figure 4C ), the DCr group had more affected areas, differing statistically from the other experimental groups (p < 0.001). It is possible to identify acinar destruction ( Figure 4F ), ductal ectasia ( Figure 4G ) and fibrosis ( Figure 4H ), respectively, in photomicrographs of the histological slides.

The fat replacement and hyperemia ( Figure 4D ,E, respectively) observations were somewhat interesting. It is possible to identify that the animals in the CCr group presented a statistical difference between the other groups regarding the number of affected areas (p < 0.05). The animals in the DCr group also showed a higher number, but without significant difference between groups C and D. We also evidenced adipose replacement in the parenchyma from the pancreatic tissue ( Figure 4I ).

We also assessed inflammatory cell infiltrates in the pancreatic tissue ( Figure 5C ,D). Animals from groups D and DCr (p < 0.01) showed an increased number of these infiltrates. Although creatine-supplemented non-diabetic animals (CCr group) also presented inflammatory cell infiltrates, this result was not statistically significant to the non-supplemented controls (C). As expected, the control animals did not present any area with foci of inflammatory infiltrate ( Figure 5A ). In addition to these findings, there was necrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma in the animals of groups CCr, D, and DCr ( Figure 5B ,E,F), but unlike the STZ-treated group (D), the animals in groups CCr and DCr did not differ significantly from the controls. We did not observe any necrosis spots in the pancreatic tissues from the control animals ( Figure 5B ). As for the findings of acinar destruction, ductal ectasia, and fibrosis, there was a significant difference for groups D and DCr in all these parameters compared to group C ( Figure 4 ). Animals in groups D and DCr had a more significant number of areas with destroyed serous acini (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) when compared to C and CCr groups ( Figure 4A ). 

We used the same division into histopathological and histomorphometric parameters for the analyses of renal tissues. All the histological slides from all groups did not exhibit the presence of arteriolar hyalinosis, atrophic and hypertrophic tubules. Due to differences in water ingestion between the experimental groups, we measured the relative kidney weight ( Figure 6C ). There was significant kidney hypertrophy (p < 0.001) of the D and DCr groups compared to the C and CCr groups. Interestingly, the DCr group showed 

We used the same division into histopathological and histomorphometric parameters for the analyses of renal tissues. All the histological slides from all groups did not exhibit the presence of arteriolar hyalinosis, atrophic and hypertrophic tubules. Due to differences in water ingestion between the experimental groups, we measured the relative kidney weight ( Figure 6C ). There was significant kidney hypertrophy (p < 0.001) of the D and DCr groups compared to the C and CCr groups. Interestingly, the DCr group showed significantly greater renal hypertrophy (p < 0.001) than the D group.

Nutrients 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 24 0.05) ( Figure 6A ). As for the glomerular area, the animals in group D showed a significant reduction compared to groups C and CCr (p < 0.05). Group DCr showed a significant increase compared to group D and showed no statistical difference compared to the control groups ( Figure 6B ). Unexpectedly, only the animals in the DCr group differed statistically from the others (p < 0.01) and presented a higher number of observations of glomerular hyalinosis ( Figure 6D ). We did not evidence a significant difference in the thickening of the basal membrane between the experimental groups. The renal glomeruli of the animals in groups CCr, D, and DCr presented ischemia (Figure 7) . The CCr group showed a statistical difference (p < 0.05) when compared to group C. Groups D and DCr had a higher intensity in ischemic findings compared to group C, but without significantly diverging from CCr ( Figure 7A ). We also found significant diffuse intercapillary glomerulosclerosis in the diabetic animals' kidneys (D and DCr) (Figure 8) .

Another histological finding noticed in the renal tissues was cylindrical protein tubules or hyaline cylinders in at least one slide of all experimental groups ( Figure 9 ). Interestingly, only the CCr group had an increased measurement (p < 0.01) ( Figure 9A ). We also observed tubular necrosis in the animals of groups CCr, D, and DCr ( Figure  9B ,E,F). There was a significant difference between the animals in group CCr and the other groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, the diabetic non-supplemented animals (Group D) differed statistically from the C and CCr groups ( Figure 9A ). As in the pancreatic tissue, renal tissues also presented inflammatory infiltration ( Figure 9G ), but the difference between the groups was not significant. In the renal histomorphometric analysis, regarding the number of glomeruli, there was no statistical difference between the groups, except for the animals in the DCr group, which showed a significant decrease compared to groups C and CCr and group D (p < 0.05) ( Figure 6A ). As for the glomerular area, the animals in group D showed a significant reduction compared to groups C and CCr (p < 0.05). Group DCr showed a significant increase compared to group D and showed no statistical difference compared to the control groups ( Figure 6B ). Unexpectedly, only the animals in the DCr group differed statistically from the others (p < 0.01) and presented a higher number of observations of glomerular hyalinosis ( Figure 6D ). We did not evidence a significant difference in the thickening of the basal membrane between the experimental groups.

The renal glomeruli of the animals in groups CCr, D, and DCr presented ischemia (Figure 7) . The CCr group showed a statistical difference (p < 0.05) when compared to group C. Groups D and DCr had a higher intensity in ischemic findings compared to group C, but without significantly diverging from CCr ( Figure 7A ). We also found significant diffuse intercapillary glomerulosclerosis in the diabetic animals' kidneys (D and DCr) (Figure 8 ). Another histological finding noticed in the renal tissues was cylindrical protein tubules or hyaline cylinders in at least one slide of all experimental groups ( Figure 9 ). Interestingly, only the CCr group had an increased measurement (p < 0.01) ( Figure 9A ). We also observed tubular necrosis in the animals of groups CCr, D, and DCr ( Figure 9B ,E,F). There was a significant difference between the animals in group CCr and the other groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, the diabetic non-supplemented animals (Group D) differed statistically from the C and CCr groups ( Figure 9A ). As in the pancreatic tissue, renal tissues also presented inflammatory infiltration ( Figure 9G ), but the difference between the groups was not significant. 

At the end of the experiment, we measured the activity of antioxidant enzymes from protein extracts from kidney tissue sections. Non-supplemented diabetic animals (D group) showed a significant decrease in the CAT ( Figure 10A ), SOD ( Figure 10B ), and GPX ( Figure 10C ) activities when compared to other experimental groups. Surprisingly, there was no statistical difference between the control groups and the DCr group in these quantified enzymes. We also measured the hydrogen peroxide content ( Figure 10D ). There was a significant increase in this parameter (p < 0.01) in group D compared to groups C and CCr. This same difference was not observed in the DCr group, which did not show significant differences compared to the control groups and showed significantly lower H 2 O 2 content (p < 0.001) compared to the D group.

When quantifying the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (Figure 10E ), the CCr group showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in lipid peroxidation in comparison to group C and both diabetic groups (D and DCr). Again, creatinesupplemented diabetic animals (DCr) did not present significant differences from the control values in the carbonylated protein content ( Figure 10F ). However, unexpectedly, diabetic animals showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) compared to the other groups in this same oxidative status parameter. Moreover, we did not observe any difference between the soluble thiol content between the experimental groups. GPX ( Figure 10C ) activities when compared to other experimental groups. Surprisingly, there was no statistical difference between the control groups and the DCr group in these quantified enzymes. We also measured the hydrogen peroxide content ( Figure 10D ). There was a significant increase in this parameter (p < 0.01) in group D compared to groups C and CCr. This same difference was not observed in the DCr group, which did not show significant differences compared to the control groups and showed significantly lower H2O2 content (p < 0.001) compared to the D group. 

To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study that evaluated morphological aspects, both histopathological and histomorphometric, of pancreatic and renal tissues and the redox state in diabetic rats induced by STZ, supplemented or not with creatine. The literature shows several studies describing the presence of clinical and biochemical parameters [23, 27, 37, 38, [56] [57] [58] . However, creatine supplementation studies in DM without evaluating morphological parameters and tissue injury are quite recurrent. Therefore, the need for and importance of these analyses are evident.

During the saturation phase, five days before T1DM induction, creatine-supplemented animals from both groups received an average of 3 g/day (13-15 g/kg). Though low maintenance doses for more prolonged periods have the equivalent effect, this strategy is not possible due to the strong effects of STZ-induced DM1 in rats. Several studies use 2% of creatine diets to maintain its saturation levels on animal models [28] , the same dose used in this study. For humans, recommended maintenance doses vary, ranging from 2-5 g/day [29, 30] . Therefore, considering the difference in BMR [46] we believe that is pertinent to extrapolate that the used creatine dosage was adequate for evaluation as an adjuvant for DM in this experimental model.

Our results demonstrate that creatine supplementation attenuates several biochemical indicators in STZ-induced DM, such as blood glucose, serum urea, reduction in diabetesinduced ALT increase, and the restoration of the antioxidant enzymes activities and hydrogen peroxide content to control levels. The glycemia reduction found here and in other studies [23, 37] , and the maintenance of renal function per si strongly suggest that some diabetes therapies could benefit from this compound's positive effects.

In addition, the histomorphometric analyses demonstrated that the creatine supplemented diabetic animals (DCr group) had an increased pancreatic islet area compared to the diabetic animals without the supplementation (D group). These results may be related to the fasting blood glucose levels in the DCr group being significantly lower than the D group and previous reports that creatine supplementation could reduce hyperglycemia in DM [23] .

These findings may also be due to a direct antioxidant effect of this compound on ROS, exerting a protective or regenerative effect on the islets during DM or STZ treatment [28, [59] [60] [61] . The restoration of the H 2 O 2 content to control levels in the DCr animals reinforces this hypothesis. In addition, our creatine supplementation results on CAT, SOD, and GPx activities support the findings of Stefani et al. (2014) [62] , which demonstrated that creatine was able to modulate antioxidant enzyme activity in rats undergoing resistance training.

The histopathological results here conform with the literature due to the identification of destroyed serous acini, ductal ectasia, and fibrosis in the diabetic groups [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] , with the DCr group having the most extensive affected areas, which may be due to supplementation in animals already injured by STZ administration [68] [69] [70] [71] . According to previous reports, inflammatory cell infiltrates, and necrosis observations are evident in DM, and we found both in the D and DCr groups. Creatine supplemented animals could not reduce the inflammatory parameter but could reduce necrosis, as observed for the DCr group.

However, it is possible to notice a possible detrimental effect of creatine while the CCr group also presented histopathological characteristics of tissue injury. In addition to this, the CCr group differed statistically from the other groups for the adipose replacement and hyperemia results. We could argue that creatine supplementation might have caused these effects, but on the other hand, previous studies have reported these findings as standard features in DM [72, 73] .

Based on these findings, we could diagnose the animals in the CCr, D, and DCr groups with pancreatitis, some with acute and others with chronic. Indeed, it is a frequent diagnosis, especially for diabetes, with most subclinical cases [74] , as the signs are commonly subtle and nonspecific [66] . Therefore, we can affirm that creatine did not attenuate or reverse this specific condition in the DCr group. Instead, it seems to cause tissue alterations in the CCr group. Mohapatra et al. (2015) defined this T1DM-related subclinical fibrosis and exocrine dysfunction without symptoms of chronic pancreatitis as diabetic exocrine pancreatopathy, as seen in this present study's results [64] .

We also detected a significant reduction in the renal glomeruli counts in the DCr group when compared to the other experimental groups. This finding may be related to the histopathological observations of hyalinosis and glomerular ischemia that may be responsible for the destruction of this structure. The constitutive expression of the creatine transporter (CreaT) in kidneys [24, 75, 76] may favor this tissue damage. Moreover, the injuries and consequences of DM make the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) more permeable, leading to an increase in protein filtration and fixation in the tubular lumen [77] . Because of this and the presence of CreaT in the kidneys, creatine or creatinine may have been hyper-filtered and condensed in the arterial and tubular lumen, leading to the impaired glomerular blood supply and ischemia. These results corroborate the higher urea concentrations in the D and DCr groups, the significant presence of cylindrical protein tubules in the CCr group, and the glomerular ischemia in the D, DCr, and CCr groups. Altogether, these changes support the influence of the pathological condition and indicate a probable effect of creatine supplementation in STZ-induced T1DM rats.

As a consequence of ischemia, the glomeruli lose podocytes, the epithelial cells of the filtration apparatus, leading to hyalinization of the glomerulus, which were only evident in the histological slides of the DCr group. This condition preferentially affects the renal tubules and leads to increased renal damage, since nephron loss by tubular necrosis may occur due to its obstruction by protein cylinders [77, 78] . In addition, the decreased oxygen supply and intense arteriolar vasoconstriction may be an attempt to maintain normal blood pressure, as observed in the CCr, D, and DCr groups, which corroborate the findings of Obineche et al. (2001) [78] .

It is also noteworthy the result of glomerular areas, which shows the DCr group similar to the control groups. On the other hand, group D was statistically different from the other groups, thus presenting smaller areas of the renal glomeruli. This result may reflect in the DCr group is a compensatory increase to mesangial expansion to preserve the filtration surface [79] , while the diabetic non-supplemented group (D) presents glomerular atrophy due to hyalinization.

The thickening of the glomerular mesangial matrix consists of diffuse intercapillary glomerulosclerosis and precedes the nodular type, pathognomonic of diabetes. It is the strongest correlation with renal dysfunction in DM and is present in most patients with T1DM with diabetic nephropathy [79, 80] . According to Najafian and Mauer (2012) [79] , there may be mesangial expansion without basement membrane thickening, attesting to this present study's histopathological findings, in which groups D and DCr showed only glomerulosclerosis.

However, the results of the glomerular area differ from those of Østerby and Gundersen (1975), Craven et al. (1997) , and Salgado et al. (2004) [81] [82] [83] . These authors showed that the glomerulus increased both in the humans and animals models. Perhaps our findings may be due to the advanced nephron damages since glomerular hypertrophy commonly occurs in early DM stages [80] . According to the histopathological diagnosis, groups D and DCr present diffuse intercapillary glomerulosclerosis, tubular necrosis, glomerulonephritis, and diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, there is not an early disease stage.

The renal injuries found might induce immune cell deposition and complement fixation. According to the work of McPhee and Ganong (2011) [84] , the prolonged inflammatory response may further destroy the glomerular architecture that, if not treated, can evoke irreversible end-stage renal damage marked by excessive immune cell invasion [77] . These authors also proposed that macrophage infiltration, stimulated by AGEs or tissue damage, can overexpress type IV collagen, causing structural changes through protein accumulation, resulting in glomerulosclerosis in models of T1DM. These observations support our findings and the higher intensity of inflammatory cells' foci on histological slides in the D and DCr groups. However, histopathological changes can develop without clinical evidence [79] . Significant glomerular tissue lesions may be present while patients are normo-or microalbuminuric and with preserved glomerular filtration rate [85, 86] , which might explain the acceptable range for creatinine and serum urea concentrations in creatinesupplemented non-diabetic animals (CCr). Indeed, this group presented tubular necrosis but with no alteration on clinical markers.

Hyperglycemia, which entails increased water consumption, weight reduction, and polyphagia due to the inefficient use of glucose in tissues due to low insulin levels, is common in T1DM. Several studies had reported that creatine supplementation could reduce blood glucose [23, 37, 45, 57, [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] . Additional pieces of evidence point to an increased expression and translocation of GLUT-4 in skeletal striated muscle cells [87, 89] . We did observe the reduced blood glucose in creatine-supplemented diabetic animals (DCr group). However, we also observed polydipsia, polyphagia, and decreased body weight in STZ-induced diabetic animals, similar to previous reports [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] . Therefore, creatine supplementation in diabetic animals neither attenuated nor aggravated these clinical effects. We emphasize this observation, especially for polydipsia, since creatine is an osmotically active substance [95] . We hypothesized that the higher intramuscular water retention and slower release to the extracellular medium would lead to dehydration [96] and interfere with this outcome. Nevertheless, as observed elsewhere [30, 97, 98] , the water balance was not affected.

Even in creatinine serum concentration, a widely used clinical marker to assess kidney function [35, 53] , and altered during non-treated DM [99, 100] , we did not find any significant difference between the experimental groups. These findings, along with the reduction in serum urea concentration in animals from the DCr group, demonstrate that creatine does attenuate kidney function in the supplemented animals, reinforcing the results obtained by de Souza and Silva (2019) and Persky and Rawson (2007) [27, 101] . However, the morphological analyses also demonstrate that creatine does not alleviate histopathological damages to a similar extent, especially for renal tissues. It is also noteworthy that these alterations are probably transitory and did not compromise the organ's function as a whole.

Similar to urea, transaminases, especially ALT and AST, are enzymes associated at high levels with markers of liver injury or necrosis [102, 103] . AST showed no significant difference between the groups. On the other hand, diabetic groups presented increased ALT concentration, indicating tissue injuries by the DM itself or by STZ administration [68, 104] . It is of particular interest that ALT is essential in the liver and kidney gluconeogenesis, transforming alanine into pyruvate for glucose production [105] [106] [107] , being critical for DM. Therefore, our results could indicate that the significant ALT reduction in the animals of the DCr group, compared to the D group, might have a protective effect on the liver and kidney tissues.

The low level of oxidative damage in proteins in the D group and the no change of this parameter in the DCr group can be explained by the kidney's high rate of protein renewal. Besides, diabetes itself induces molecular remodeling through proteases, which could modulate the levels of this marker [108] . Portero-Otín (1999) [109] suggested that the decrease or no change in carbonylated proteins in diabetic rats may be due to increased protease activity in oxidatively altered proteins. Furthermore, in general, the degradation of oxidatively modified proteins is prioritized over native proteins [110] -a fact that reinforces our cited hypotheses. This work has some limitations. First, despite its widespread use for T1DM investigations, a single STZ injection may affect the pancreatic β-cells heterogeneously, mainly due to β-cell glucotoxicity. Thus, diabetic animals may exhibit distinct levels of hyperglycemia or even some degree of islets regeneration [111] . Another potential limitation of our study is that we performed analyses at a single point, and asynchronous responses between biochemical and histopathological responses may have occurred throughout the experimental period. However, other reports demonstrate that a 30-day trial is sufficient to produce several systemic damages from the chronic hyperglycemia that sets in [112, 113] . In addition, we used a single-one supplementation scheme, and there is no agreement on the creatine dosage for rats in the literature. Even though we are optimistic that the creatine doses used in this study are adequate to the model, we cannot exclude that this dosage is high enough to exert renal and pancreatic tissues damages.

According to the biochemical and morphological parameters found in this study, it is evident that creatine supplementation could significantly improve the consequences of STZ-induced DM, as observed by the attenuation in biochemical parameters. Despite this improvement, the morphological analyses of pancreatic and renal tissues indicated that the supplementation did not attenuate at the same extent the histopathological alterations from the disease. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of future studies to better understand

Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of medical care in diabetes 2019

Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes

Highlighting Diabetes Mellitus

Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes. Diretrizes SBD

Type 2 diabetes: A multifaceted disease

Management of type 1 diabetes

The attenuation of Moutan cortex on oxidative stress for renal injury in AGEs-induced mesangial cell dysfunction and streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy rats

Advanced glycation end products and diabetic retinopathy

Advanced glycation end products, oxidative stress and diabetic nephropathy

O papel dos produtos finais de glicosilação avançada na nefropatia diabética

The role of advanced glycation end-products in the development of coronary artery disease in patients with and without diabetes mellitus: A review

Advanced glycation end products and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Effect of combined calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and E supplementation on seminal parameters and serum oxidative stress markers in fructose-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Effect of magnesium supplementation on glucose metabolism in people with or at risk of diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomized controlled trials

The Beneficiary Role of Selenium in Type II Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study. Cureus 2019, 11, e6443

Dose-related effects of ferric citrate supplementation on endoplasmic reticular stress responses and insulin signalling pathways in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetes

Lutein Dietary Supplementation Attenuates Streptozotocin-induced testicular damage and oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Zinc supplementation improves glucose homeostasis in patients with β-thalassemia major complicated with diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial

Resveratrol supplementation improves metabolic control in rats with induced hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes

Potential of creatine in glucose management and diabetes

Effects of creatine supplementation on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in sedentary healthy males undergoing aerobic training

Creatine and the creatine transporter: A review

Creatine in Humans with Special Reference to Creatine Supplementation

Creatine: Biosynthesis, regulation and function

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Renal Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effects of creatine supplementation on homocysteine levels and lipid peroxidation in rats

The evolving applications of creatine supplementation: Could creatine improve vascular health? Nutrients

Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: What does the scientific evidence really show?

Stöckler-Ipsiroglu, S. Effects of oral creatine supplementation in a patient with MELAS phenotype and associated nephropathy

The effects of the recommended dose of creatine monohydrate on kidney function

Acute Renal Failure in a Young Weight Lifter Taking Multiple Food Supplements, Including Creatine Monohydrate

Dietary creatine supplementation does not affect some haematological indices, or indices of muscle damage and hepatic and renal function

Creatine supplementation associated with resistance training does not alter renal and hepatic functions

Does Creatine Supplementation Affect Renal Function in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease? A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled

Creatine supplementation does not impair kidney function in type 2 diabetic patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

Effects of creatine supplementation on renal function: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Allyl methyl sulfide, a garlic active component mitigates hyperglycemia by restoration of circulatory antioxidant status and attenuating glycoprotein components in streptozotocin-induced experimental rats

Muscle creatine loading in men

Long-term creatine intake is beneficial to muscle performance during resistance training

Creatine supplementation and oxidative stress in rat liver

Creatine feeding increases GLUT4 expression in rat skeletal muscle

Short-term creatine supplementation changes protein metabolism signaling in hindlimb suspension

Effect of creatine supplementation on creatine and glycogen content in rat skeletal muscle

How to Translate Time? The Temporal Aspect of Human and Rodent Biology

A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding

Biochemical and Developmental Characterization of Multiple Forms of Catalase in Tobacco Leaves

Oxygen species and overuse tendinopathy in athletes

Effect of exercise training on liver antioxidant enzymes in STZ-diabetic rats

Exogenous application of triadimefon affects the antioxidant defense system of Withania somnifera Dunal

Photoperoxidation in isolated chloroplasts

Tissue Sulfydryl Groups

Ellman's Reagent: 5,5'-Dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic Acid)-A Reexamination

Carbonyl assays for determination of oxidatively modified proteins

Effects of creatine supplementation on biomarkers of hepatic and renal function in young trained rats

Creatine supplementation and glycemic control: A systematic review

Kidney disease is associated with in-hospital death of patients with COVID-19

Suplementação de creatina, homocisteína e estresse oxidativo

Direct Antioxidant Properties of Creatine

Creatine supplementation affords cytoprotection in oxidatively injured cultured mammalian cells via direct antioxidant activity. Free Radic

Effects of creatine supplementation associated with resistance training on oxidative stress in different tissues of rats

Adhesion molecules and pancreatitis

Diabetes Mellitus Causes an Exocrine Pancreatopathy: Conclusions Based on a Systematic Review

Pathologic anatomy of the pancreas in juvenile diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis-Cause or effect?

Histology of type 1 diabetes pancreas

Intracerebroventricular Streptozotocin Injections as a Model of Alzheimer's Disease: In Search of a Relevant Mechanism

Experimental diabetes induced by alloxan and streptozotocin: The current state of the art

STZ transport and cytotoxicity. Specific enhancement in GLUT2-expressing cells

The mechanism of alloxan and streptozotocin action in B cells of the rat pancreas

Pancreatic steatosis: A new diagnosis and therapeutic challenge in gastroenterology

On the dynamics of the human endocrine pancreas and potential consequences for the development of type 1 diabetes

Age-related morphological changes in the pancreas and their association with pancreatic carcinogenesis

The creatine kinase system and pleiotropic effects of creatine

Creatine kinase in non-muscle tissues and cells

Diabetes-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species: Mechanism of Their Generation and Role in Renal Injury

Morphological changes in the rat kidney following long-term diabetes

Morphologic Features of Declining Renal Function in Type 1 Diabetes

Cellular basis of diabetic nephropathy: 1. Study design and renal structural-functional relationships in patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes

Fisiopatologia da nefropatia diabética

Effects of supplementation with vitamin C or E on albuminuria, glomerular TGF-beta, and glomerular size in diabetes

Glomerular size and structure in diabetes mellitus. I. Early abnormalities. Diabetologia

Glomerular changes in normo-and microalbuminuric patients with long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The early natural history of nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes: III. Predictors of 5-year urinary albumin excretion rate patterns in initially normoalbuminuric patients

Creatine in type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Neuroprotective effects of creatine in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease

Effect of oral creatine supplementation on human muscle GLUT4 protein content after immobilization

Hibiscus sabdariffa renews pancreatic β-cells in experimental type 1 diabetic model rats. Morphologie

Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Models in Mice and Rats

Standardization of type 1 and type 2 diabetic nephropathy models in rats: Assessment and characterization of metabolic features and renal injury

Hypoglycemic, antidyslipidemic and antioxydant effects of Vitellaria paradoxa barks extract on high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes rats

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Securigera securidaca seeds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Putting to rest the myth of creatine supplementation leading to muscle cramps and dehydration

Creatine supplementation increases total body water without altering fluid distribution

Teles Soares Beserra, B.; de Moraes, B.S.; Trindade, E. Creatine and Resistance Training: Effect on Hydration and Lean Body

Does creatine supplementation hinder exercise heat tolerance or hydration status? A systematic review with meta-analyses

Renal function in diabetic nephropathy

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease defined by using CKD-EPI equation and albumin-to-creatinine ratio in the Korean adult population

Safety of creatine supplementation

Liver Function Tests

Liver enzymes, metabolomics and genome-wide association studies: From systems biology to the personalized medicine

The mechanisms of alloxan-and streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Abnormal liver function tests associated with severe rhabdomyolysis

Renal glucose metabolism in normal physiological conditions and in diabetes

Role of the kidney in normal glucose homeostasis and in the hyperglycaemia of diabetes mellitus: Therapeutic implications

Type 1 diabetes mellitus induces structural changes and molecular remodelling in the rat kidney

Diabetes induces an impairment in the proteolytic activity against oxidized proteins and a heterogeneous effect in nonenzymatic protein modifications in the cytosol of rat liver and kidney

Oxidised protein metabolism: Recent insights

Streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rodents as a model for studying mitochondrial mechanisms of diabetic β cell glucotoxicity

Thirty-day experimental diabetes impairs contractility and increases fatigue resistance in rat diaphragm muscle associated with increased anti-oxidative activity. Can

methyl cysteine sulfoxide ameliorates duodenal morphological alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats