Can the Mortality Rate be Reduced in the Diabetes Induction Model in Rats? A Protocol Study

The use of animal models of diseases is essential for the study of the effects of various drugs and the discovery of new drugs. One of the most common problems in researches on diabetes in animal models is the high rate of mortality after diabetes induction. This leads to disrupt the grouping of diabetic animals for interventional evaluations. We introduce a protocol to reduce the rate of mortality in diabetic rats. To do this, we used alloxan at dose of 185 mg/kg to induce diabetes in rats. In this study in addition to provide 5% glucose solution in drinking water from 2 to 12 hrs post alloxan injection, 2 ml of 50% dextrose solution orally gavaged with 2 hrs intervals up to 12 hrs post diabetes induction, and also from 12 to 24 hrs following alloxan injection 2 ml of 5% glucose solution was given by gavage every 2 hrs. Furthermore, from 6 to 48 hrs post alloxan injection the rats were orally received 1 ml of Ringer's serum with 2 hrs intervals via gavage route. Moreover, one unit of Novolin 70/30 (70% NPH and 30% insulin regular) was subcutaneously injected in the back of the neck area for 5 consistence days from the second day post alloxan injection. In the sixth day following alloxan injection the level of glucose was at level of 280 mg/dL which considered as diabetic level. Our findings showed that by abovementioned interventions the rate of mortality significantly reduced (2 percent) and diabetes well established.