الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE WORKOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Water nitrate pollution involves various negative consequences for human health, as well as domestic and wild animals. Some recent studies have underlined the relation between high nitrate intake in drinking water and incidence of diabetes mellitus among population of both young and adult ages. On the other hand, beneficial effects of natural plants have been experimentally documented in this condition. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate incidence of diabetes in relation to long exposure of male rats (young & adults) to nitrate in drinking water at dose 550mg/ L. Also, to evaluate the ameliorating effect of administrating diet supplemented with fenugreek seeds powder against nitrate-induced diabetes.
The results of the present study indicated that drinking nitrate polluted water caused the following alterations in comparison with the control group:
1- Body weight gain was found to be significantly decreased in both ages, particularly the young one.
2- Serum glucose level and Hb A1C% were significantly elevated, along with decreased serum insulin level, however the greatest change appeared in the young group.
3- Liver glycogen content was significantly decreased, concomitant with a significant elevation in glucose-6-phosphatse (G-6-Pase) activity, in particular the young one.
4- Serum triiodothyronin (T3) and thyroxin (T4) levels were significantly decreased, while serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was significantly elevated in the two investigated ages, mainly the young animals.
In contrast, intake of fenugreek seed powder seemed to control diabetic effect of nitrate exposure through inhibiting the increase in lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide and NO levels and enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as tumor markers (CEA, α-amylase and ACP). Besides, a reduction in the lipid profile, and improvement in the pattern of molecular analysis of pancreatic DNA were also evidenced.