Effects of Jiang Tang Fang Long Formula on Insulin Production and Function in an Animal Model of Diabetic Hearing Loss

To study the influence of Jiang Tang Fang Long formula on insulin production and function in an animal model of diabetic hearing loss. Wistar rats (n=60) were randomly divided into 6 groups (10 in each) to receive no treatment (the normal control, Group A), or to receive intra-peritoneal 55 mg/kg streptozotocin with (Groups C, D and E) or without (Group B) subsequent Jiang Tang Fang Long formula treatment at various doses or Yu Long Wan treatment (Group F). After 60 days, fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight (BW) and fasting insulin (FINS) were recorded and the HOMA-IR and HOMA-β calculated. Insulin expression in pancreatic tissues was measured by radioimmunoassay. Compared with animals that received streptozotocin without rescue treatment (Group B), animals that received higher doses of Jiang Tang Fang Long formula(Groups D and E) showed improved indices of diabetes manifestation (P < 0.05) and improved HOMA-β (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner, as well as improved insulin expression in pancreatic islets (P<0.05). The difference between low dose Jiang Tang Fang Long formula treatment (Group C) and Group B was not significant (P>0.05). Our results suggest that Jiang Tang Fang Long formula may improve pancreatic β-cells function which may explain its efficacy in treating diabetic hearing loss.