Morphological and structural alterations in skeletal muscle of STZ-induced diabetic ratsrevealed by light and electron microscopy

Authors

  • Hanan Kumar Gopalan Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kajang 43000, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Biomedical Science Programme, Centre for Toxicology & Health Risk Studies (CORE), Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4868-016X
  • Yanti Rosli Biomedical Science Programme, Centre for Toxicology & Health Risk Studies (CORE), Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1088-4829
  • Noman D Salih Fallujah Teaching Hospital, Immunology and Serology Unit, Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0969-3507
  • Nur Afrina Muhamad Hendri Electron Microscopy Unit, Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-9403
  • Wirda Indah Farouk Department of Diagnostic Laboratory Service, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Nur Syahrunnizar Division of Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Otsu, Shiga, Japan https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3642-7781
  • Mohd Shazwan Shazdee Wahab Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kajang 43000, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1838-5884
  • Jyh Chyang Pang Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kajang 43000, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2737-0891
  • Norzein Ab Rahim Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kajang 43000, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
  • Hiang Lian Hing First City University College, Petaling Jaya 47800, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Keywords:

Scanning electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy; myofiber; type 2 diabetes; hyperglycemia

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigates morphological and ultrastructural changes in skeletal muscles of diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ) using light microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Together, these imaging methods allow for detailed visualization of tissue-level and subcellular changes in the gastrocnemius muscle, offering an integrated view of diabetes-related pathology. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats through a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (at 65 mg/kg). After 30 days of diabetes maintenance, the rats were euthanized, and gastrocnemius muscle samples were harvested for Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Masson’s Trichrome (MT), and histochemical staining. Morphological features were examined using FESEM, and ultrastructural organization was analyzed using TEM. Results: Our findings confirm that hyperglycemia severely damages skeletal muscle in STZ-induced diabetic rats, characterized by extensive myofiber injury, atrophy, and mitochondrial disruptions. Ultrastructural analysis revealed extensive architectural disruptions and clear deviations from normal morphology. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of profound structural and cellular alterations in diabetic skeletal muscles and offers insights for developing strategies to mitigate pathological changes, preserve muscle integrity, and support functional recovery.

J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 13(1): 67-77, March 2026

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Published

2026-08-28

How to Cite

Gopalan, H. K. ., Rosli, Y. ., Salih, N. D., Hendri, N. A. M. ., Farouk, W. I. ., Syahrunnizar, N. ., Wahab, M. S. S. ., Pang, J. C. ., Rahim, N. A. ., & Hing, H. L. (2026). Morphological and structural alterations in skeletal muscle of STZ-induced diabetic ratsrevealed by light and electron microscopy. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 13(1), 67-77. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JAVAR/article/view/92995

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Hanan Kumar Gopalan, Yanti Rosli, Noman D Salih, Nur Afrina Muhamad Hendri, Wirda Indah Farouk, Nur Syahrunnizar, Mohd Shazwan Shazdee Wahab, Jyh Chyang Pang, Norzein Ab Rahim, Hiang Lian Hing

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How to Cite

Gopalan, H. K. ., Rosli, Y. ., Salih, N. D., Hendri, N. A. M. ., Farouk, W. I. ., Syahrunnizar, N. ., Wahab, M. S. S. ., Pang, J. C. ., Rahim, N. A. ., & Hing, H. L. (2026). Morphological and structural alterations in skeletal muscle of STZ-induced diabetic ratsrevealed by light and electron microscopy. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 13(1), 67-77. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JAVAR/article/view/92995