Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of Metformin on Potassium-adapted and Non-adapted Diabetic Rats

O J Owolabi , EKI Omogbai

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria;

For correspondence:- O Owolabi Email: josphineomo@yahoo.com Tel:+2348034120318

Received: 24 May 2012 Accepted: 17 July 2012 Published: 18 October 2012

Citation: Owolabi OJ, Omogbai E. Effect of Metformin on Potassium-adapted and Non-adapted Diabetic Rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2012; 11(5):747-752 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v11i5.7

© 2012 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the effects of potassium adaptation on some biochemical parameters in diabetic rats treated with metformin.

Methods: Diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin in potassium-adapted and non-adapted rats and, then metformin (350 mg/kg) was administered orally. The following parameters were then evaluated 24 h after drug administration: urine volume, plasma glucose, plasma and urine creatinine and creatinine clearance. Lipid profiles and plasma and urine urea were also determined.

Results: The blood glucose of the potassium-adapted diabetic group was not significantly reduced on treatment with metformin, compared to non-adapted diabetic rats which were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) on metformin treatment. The potassium-adapted group treated with metformin had significantly higher creatinine clearance (p < 0.05) than the non adapted group. Urine volumes for both the diabetic and the potassium-adapted diabetic rats were significantly lower (p < 0.05) on treatment with metformin.

Conclusion: The results indicate that potassium adaptation induces resistance to treatment with metformin and increases creatinine clearance in diabetic rats.

Keywords: Metformin, hypoglycemia, potassium, adapted rats, non-adapted rats