Animal Model for Hypoglycemic Studies Using Albino Rats
A. J. Alhassan *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.
I. U. Muhammad
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.
A. A. Imam
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.
A. M. Wudil
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.
A. Idi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.
A. Mohammed
Department of Biochemistry, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B. 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria.
A. Nasir
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar´adua University, Katsina, Nigeria.
I. Alexander
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, P.M.B. 01784, Enugu, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: It could be speculated that hypoglycemia increases level of serum α-amylase and α-glucosidase and their corresponding mRNA, with concomitant increase in plasma level of glucagon. However, the concept of developing hypoglycemic rats’ model is associated with number of hitches.
Aim: To successfully induce and sustain hypoglycemia in albino rats using ethanol.
Methodology: Total of twenty four (24) rats used for the study were grouped into four (4) of six (6) rats each. Group I served as normal control, group II, III and IV were respectively administered with single dose of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight of ethanol and observed for 72 hours. Blood glucose was monitored at 0, 30 mins, 1 hr, 2 hrs, 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hours using glucometer.
Results: within 30 minutes of ethanol administration, a significant (p<0.05) decrease in fasting blood glucose level of group II, III, and IV was observed compared to group I, with no significant weight decrease (P>0.05) among groups. Toxicity studies however show damages to vital organs (liver, kidney and pancreas) which could be associated with ethanol administration in a dose dependent pattern.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that oral administration of ethanol at 250 mg/kg body weight to experimental rats can aggravates and maintain hypoglycemia with mild toxicity to the vital organs, it may therefore be concluded that 250 mg/kg body weight of ethanol could be used in maintaining an ideal hypoglycemic rat model as research tool.
Keywords: Albino rats, modelling, ethanol, hypoglycemia