IN VIVO STUDY OF GLUCOSE AND PROTEIN LEVELS USING THE DIABETIC WISTAR RAT MODEL

Abstract

Background and Aims The diabetic animal model was developed as a type for studies in vivo because of the death rates in many countries associated with the prevalence of diabetes, this disease is a respecter of no person. This study assessed and compared total protein and albumin concentration, basal fasting blood sugar and post induction fasting blood sugar levels in rat model. Methods Qualitative and Quantitative test and analysis were carried to assess the levels of albumin and total protein and their absorbance levels were read and recorded in g/dL, while the fasting blood sugar was determined using the glucometer strip method at intervals and recorded in mg/dL. Group A served as the negative, non-diabetic control for the study and they were fed normally with water without inducing diabetes while Group B served as the positive control, diabetic untreated group where Diabetes mellitus was induced using 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan and left untreated. Results Plasma total protein in diabetic Wistar rat (8.44 ±4.39 g/dl) did not change significantly (P>0.05) compared with the control Wistar rat (10.04 ± 4.14). However, the level of 1-week post-induction FBS in diabetic Wistar rat (475.75 ± 66.74 mg/dl) was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to that of the control (85.0 ± 6.7 mg/dl). Conclusions Protein levels may not change within a week after developing diabetes mellitus and as such should not be the sole biomarker to test for diabetes.