Objective: To investigate the effect of curcumin in the restoration of lung microvasculature in streptozotocin-induced diabetic model.

Material and Method: Operation of diabetic rat model was induced by streptozotocin (STZ: 60 mg/kg BW). Male rats (7 to 8 weeks old) have been classified into three groups, control (C), diabetic (DM) and diabetic rats supplemented with curcumin (DMC) (200 mg/kg BW). After 8 weeks, lung microvasculature was investigated under vascular corrosion cast technique and examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Results: In DM group, structural damages of pulmonary capillary level were obviously severe, defined as microangiopathy. The predominant abnormality of pulmonary capillary revealed destroyed characteristics such as shrinkage, constriction and capillary bed deformity. Furthermore, some destruction was observed at arteriole level whereas destructions of large and small arteries were rarely noticed. Regarding the diameters, the pulmonary capillary of DM group considerably decreased in sizes. Interestingly, upon curcumin supplementation, recovery of pulmonary capillary was predominantly enhanced, demonstrating reformed typical microvasculature pattern. Moreover, the diameter sizes of DMC pulmonary capillary were fully restored forward to normal control condition.

Conclusion: Curcumin in diabetic rat could appreciably restored pulmonary microangiopathy at pulmonary capillary toward normal structure. Curcumin might be a novel therapeutic agent in pulmonary microvascular diabetic complications.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Curcumin, Lung capillary, Vascular corrosion cast, Scanning electron microscope