الفهرس 
Types and sources of vitamin DOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitamin D is now considered one of the most important rich
fields for research work because of its major role in many aspects
of health. Previously it was believed that vit.D concerned only
with the homeostasis of Ca but now it is proved to have a crucial
role in endocrine and immune system modulation.
There are two types of the vitamin, vit.D3 (cholecalciferol)
formed mainly in the skin and vit.D2 (ergocalciferol) of diet
sources. Both are inactive and need activation in two steps firstly
in the liver and then in the kidney.
Vitamin D exerts its action via nuclear receptors (VDR) that are
present in many tissuses including the pancreatic β cells.
The deficiency state of the vitamin is considered to be
established when the level of 25(OH) Vit. D reach <20 ng/ ml.
It is belived that vit.D contributes in the pathogenesis of both
types of Diabetes mellitus (DM). It is not only important for
insulin secretion but also improve the insulin sensitivity of the
target cells.
So the aim of the present study was to detect the effect of
induced vitamin D deficiency on the blood glucose level and the
structure of the pancreas. A total of twenty four male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were
divided into two groups. group I, consisted of 6 rats as the
control group and group II, consisted of 18 rats were further
subdivided into group IIa of 9 rats subjected to vit.D deficiency
diet for one month and group IIb of 9 rats subjected to vit.D
deficiency diet for two months.
Light microscopic examination of sections of pancreas stained
with H&E, Masson’s trichrome and Toluidine blue stains
revealed changes in the structure of the islets of Langerhans.
These changes were more marked in the rats subjected to the
deficient diet for two months than in rats fed the deficient diet for
only one month.There were reduction in the number, size and
total mass of the islets. The islet cells themselves were decreased.
Some nuclei showed pyknotic features.
Statistical analysis of the blood glucose levels showed
nonsignificant increase in rats subjected to the deficient diet for
one month compared with those of the control group, while
showed significant increase in rats subjected to vit.D deficient
diet for two months.
In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that vit.D
deficiency for more than one month can affect the pancreas and
develops DM.