ONE-YEAR TREATMENT OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS WITH VANADYL SULFATE

Streptozotocin-diabetic and non-diabetic rats were given various conce ntrations of vanadyl sulphate in drinking water for one year. It was f ound that vanadyl sulphate caused significant decreases in body weight gain and plasma insulin level in non-diabetic rats, but did not signi ficantly alter fluid and food intakes or plasma levels of glucose, tri glycerides, or cholesterol. In diabetic animals, vanadyl treatment sig nificantly alleviated or prevented the occurrence of hyperglycaemia, h ypoinsulinaemia, hyperphagia, polydipsia, hyperlipidaemia, or cataract formation, but the slower body weight gain was not improved. There we re gradual decreases in the intake of the compound required to correct hyperglycaemia in the values of ED,, with age of the rats. The benefi cial effects of vanadyl treatment persisted 16 weeks following the wit hdrawal of the compound. It is concluded that vanadyl sulphate is an e ffective agent for chronic therapy of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats, and its prolonged use does not lead to the development of tol erance.