Sex-related canatoxin-induced blood glucose alterations in the rat.

Abstract

1. The present study was designed to characterize sex-related canatoxin-induced blood glucose alterations in rats. 2. Chronic administration of canatoxin (50 mU, ip, daily for 3 days) induced hypoglycemia in female rats (N = 6) (-36.54 +/- 3.24%, P less than 0.05). The response of pregnant rats (N = 8) was similar to that observed for male rats (+29.57 +/- 4.70%). 3. Administration of canatoxin did not modify blood glucose levels of gonadectomized male or female rats. Similarly, pretreatment of intact male or female rats with human chorionic gonadotropin (40 IU/kg, im) blocked the effect of canatoxin on blood glucose levels. 4. Gonadal steroid replacement (testosterone, 10 mg/kg, im) for gonadectomized male rats did not reverse the inhibition of canatoxin-induced blood glucose alterations, whereas pretreatment of intact female rats (N = 6) with testosterone (10 mg/kg, im) significantly attenuated the canatoxin-induced hypoglycemia. 5. These data indicate that the blood glucose alterations produced by canatoxin in rats are under hormonal regulation.

• Authors: R Pires-Barbosa, G Ribeiro-DaSilva
• Journal: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas (Braz J Med Biol Res) Vol. 22 Issue 12 Pg. 1507-13 ( 1989) ISSN: 0100-879X [Print] Brazil
• PMID: 2641357 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Lectins
• Plant Proteins
• Toxins, Biological
• canatoxin

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Castration
• Female
• Lectins (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Lethal Dose 50
• Male
• Plant Proteins
• Pregnancy
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Sex Characteristics
• Toxins, Biological