Peculiar glycemic patterns in alloxaninduced diabetes animal model
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Date
2012Author
Matheka, Duncan M
Kitua, Morris
Alkizim, Faraj O.
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
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Background: Laboratory investigations on diabetes mellitus (DM) have employed various animal models. Alloxan, a β-cell toxin, has widely been used to induce DM in animals. The current study reports peculiar glycemic patterns during alloxan DM induction.
Method: Thirty eight, six-month old Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to two groups: control (n=14) and experimental (n=24). Alloxan (125 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to the experimental group, and an equal volume of normal saline to the control. Using a glucometer, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were assessed on
days 0, 3, 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Results: At day 3, FBG levels were higher in the experimental group (19.26±1.77 vs. 3.21±0.04 mmol/l, p<0.01). Thereafter, FBG levels in the experimental group reduced gradually till day 27, though remaining higher than the control (7.59±0.86 vs. 3.22±0.13 mmol/l, p<0.01). The FBG levels in the control oscillated between 3.14±0.04 and
3.26±0.05 mmol/l. Out of the 24 rats administered with alloxan, only 10 were diabetic at day 27.
Conclusion: Induction of diabetes in rats using alloxan (125mg/kg) leads to variability in glucose levels. A number of animals greater than required may be necessary to accommodate failed diabetes induction. Follow-up for at least one month is necessary before confirming induction.
Publisher
African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department of Medical Physiology
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10378]