Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy can cause heart histological changes. This study was done to evaluate the effect of barly grain (Hordeum Vulgar L.) consumption during pregnancy in diabetic rats on heart histological altrations of offsprings.

Methods: In this experimental study ,60 adult female albino rats, randomly allocated into four groups including: healthy group with regular meals consumption as control, healthy which consumed barley( 10 grams per each rat per daily), diabetic with regular meals consumption and diabetic group which consumed barley( 10 grams per each rat per daily). diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg/bw of streptozotocin. After confirmation of pregnancy by observing the vaginal plug on 21th days, the dams were anesthetized and embryos were removed. Crown rump length and weight of embryos wre recorded.after heart tissue processing, sections with 5 micrometer thickness were stained with H&E method.

Results: Cardiomyocytes  from  change  was  seen  as  hypertrophy,  interstitial  plates  and  Purkinje  fibers reduction,  inflammation  and  congestion  of  vessels were observed in embryos of diabeticts group. These tissues alterations significantly reduced in the embryos of diabetic  group  which  consumed  barley.  The crown rump length of embryos significantly reduced in diabetic groupin comparision with controls. There was no many differences in crown rump length of embryos between diabetic consumed barley and diabetic group. The weight of embryos was non-significantly more in diabetic groups than controls. The weight of embryos reducednon-significantly in diabetic plus barley consumptionin comparision with controls. 

Conclusion: The consumption of barley is beneficial in reducing heart histological alterations in embryos of diabetic rats.