Fig. 3

a Liver histology of control, STZ-induced diabetic, metformin-treated, and flax/fish oil-treated animals. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained cross sections of paraffin-embedded liver tissues of rats from the control and experimental groups (×40). Liver from the control group shows normal architecture. Sections of the liver from the STZ-induced diabetic group show severe destruction of hepatic cells, pathological calcification, hemorrhages, and mild mononuclear cells in the portal tracts. Liver from the metformin-treated group shows some destructive changes and congestion of some central vein. The liver histology of animals treated with flax oil and fish oil shows completely normal liver architecture without any anatomically detectable anomalies. b Kidney histology of healthy, STZ-induced diabetic, metformin-treated, and flax/fish oil-treated animals. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained cross sections of paraffin-embedded kidney tissues of rats from the control and experimental groups (×40). Kidney from the control group shows normal kidney architecture. Sections of kidney from the STZ diabetic group showed conjunction of glomerular capillary and blood vesicle. Some tubular epithelial cells show vacuolation and cloudy changes. Kidney from the metformin-treated group shows vacuolation of some tubular epithelial cells and conjunction of glomerular capillary. The liver histology of animals treated with flax and fish oil shows no considerable changes and show normal architecture