Objective   To explore protective effect of oyster extract on pancreaticβcell damage induced by Alloxan in mice.

  Methods   50 mice were randomly divided into model group, three experimental groups and control with 10 each.Mice in three experimental groups were treated 20, 400, 1 200 mg/(kg·bw)oyster extract respectively by gavage for continuous 4 weeks, and those in control and model groups received an equivalent volume normal saline.Then the mice in three experimental and model groups were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of alloxan200 mg/(kg·bw)in normal saline, and of equal volume of normal saline in control.72 h after injection, the blood and pancreas were collected.The levels of blood sugar, insulin and tumor necrosis factor were determined respectively, and the morphologic observation of pancreas also was made.

  Results   Insulin levels of mice in the oyster extract groups were significantly higher than that of model group(P < 0.05), while blood sugar and tumor necrosis factor in serum of mice in oyster extract groups were much lower than those in model group(P < 0.01), and pancreatic cell damage of mice in oyster extract groups were lighter than those of model group also.

  Conclusion   Oyster extracthad significant protective effect on the pancreaticβcell damage induced by Alloxan.