VANADYL TREATMENT NORMALIZES SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY-GLAND INSULIN-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RATS

Rat submandibular salivary glands (SSG) contain a compound displaying insulin-like immunoreactivity (ILI) and various biological activities of insulin. As SSG ILI levels were reported to be increased in strepto zotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes but not normalized by a two-week insuli n treatment, we decided to check whether another antidiabetic treatmen t, vanadyl sulphate (VOSO4), was able to regulate SSG ILI concentratio n. A short term (8 days) i.p. VOSO4 treatment (total dose = 1.3 mmol/k g) of rats made diabetic 8 days earlier by a single i.v. injection of STZ (60 mg/kg BW) was able to induce a long-term (4 weeks) correction of hyperglycemia while weight gain was re-established. In untreated di abetic animals (approximate to-25%) and increased (approximate to+175% ) as compared to normal rats. Both parameters were normalized in VOSO4 -treated diabetic rats.