Diabetes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Diabetes, including details on insulin, type i, type ii, diet, treatment, prevention.

Modulation of glucose transporter (GLUT4) by vanadate and Trigonella in alloxan-diabetic rats.

Mohammad S, Taha A, Bamezai RN, Baquer NZ

School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.

Oral administration of vanadate is an effective treatment for diabetes in animal models. However, vanadate exerts these effects at high doses and several toxic effects are produced. Low doses of vanadate are relatively safe but are unable to elicit any antidiabetic effect. The present study explored the prospect of using low doses of vanadate in combination with Trigonella seed powder (TSP) to evaluate their antidiabetic effect in alloxan-diabetic rats. Alloxan-diabetic rats were treated with insulin, vanadate, TSP and vanadate and TSP in combination for 3 weeks. The effect of these antidiabetic compounds was examined on general physiological parameters and distribution of glucose transporter (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Treatment of alloxan-diabetic rats with insulin, vanadate, TSP and vanadate in combination with TSP revived normoglycemia and restored the disturbances in the distribution of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle. TSP treatment was only partially effective in the restoration of diabetic alterations. The treatment of diabetic rats with combined doses of vanadate and TSP was most effective in the normalization of plasma glucose levels and correction of altered GLUT4 distribution.

Published 17 January 2006 in Life Sci, 78(8): 820-4.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Diabetes Research Today. All Rights Reserved.