TISSUE CHLOROQUINE LEVELS IN DIABETIC RATS

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of metabolism resulting from insulin abnormality. Tissue levels of chloroquine in diabetes were investigated. Few diseases have such plural effects in the body as diabetes mellitus. Chloroquine distribution in the tissue and blood was investigated in diabetic rats to a certain how diabetes mellitus affects the levels of chloroquine in tissues and blood. This may prove valuable in a possible diabetes- malaria case treatment. Diabetes mellitus was induced in a group of experimental rats using streptozotocin, 60mg/Kg dose. The mean volume of urine passed over 96 hour period after 10 days of streptozotocin administration was 31.74±0.06 ml and that of control rats was 23.28±0.19 ml. The values showed significant statistical difference (p<0.05). Confirmation of diabetes was performed 14 days after streptozotocin administration by determining the blood glucose levels, using glucose oxidase reagent. The diabetic and the control rats were divided into two groups each, which were given 10mg/Kg and 20mg/Kg single dose of chloroquine respectively. 96 hours after the administration of a single dose of chloroquine, the blood and tissue levels of chloroquine were determined. The chloroquine levels obtained in the tissues of the diabetic rats were 1.01±0.06 µgg^-1in the heart and 10.73±0.185 µgg^-1 in the liver for the 10mg/kg single chloroquine dose and 1.68±0.06µgg^-1 in the heart and 16.68±1.056µgg^-1in the liver for the 20mg/kg single chloroquine dose. The corresponding values for the control rats were 0.96±0.032µgg^-1 in the heart and 7.23±0.072µgg^-1 in the liver for the 10mg/kg single chloroquine dose and 1.59±0.039µgg^-1 in the heart and 12.66±0.396µgg^-1 in liver for the 20mg/kg single chloroquine dose. The diabetic and control rats chloroquine tissue and blood values showed significant statistical difference (p<0.05).