A new approach to serial monitoring of blood glucose levels, peripheral nerve conduction velocities and lenticular changes using unanaesthetized streptozotocin diabetic rats, following chronic administration of antidiabetic agents
David, J.; Wagle, G.P.; Talwalker, P.K.; Grewal, R.S.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 19(1): 49-53
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 7239567 Document Number: 180950
Effect of chronic administration of protamine zinc insulin (PZI), sodium tolbutamide and phenformin on the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and stimulus threshold (ST) of peripheral tail nerves, blood glucose levels, body weights and incidence of lenticular opacities were studied sequentially in unanesthetized streptozotocin diabetic rats. In comparison with age matched normal controls, significantly lowered NCV and body weights and significantly elevated blood glucose levels were seen, beginning 6 to approximately 55 wk after streptozotocin while stimulus threshold values were the same in the 2 groups. In diabetic rats, PZI 10 units per day, s.c. induced normoglycemia and weight gain together with improvement in NCV. Neither sodium tolbutamide (100 mg/kg per day po ) nor phenformin (50 mg/kg, po, twice daily) altered any of the parameters examined in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats showed high incidence of lenticular opacities but these were not influenced by antidiabetic agents.