The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on vasopressin, serum insulin levels, insulin resistance, and biochemical parameters in rats induced with experimental diabetes type 2.

OBJECTIVE

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) treatment in diabetic patients is very important owing to the increasing hyperactivity of thrombocytes and atherosclerosis. In several investigations, it was reported that diabetes caused increased coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and death. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of ASA on osmoregulation, glycemic control, and some biochemical parameters in rats induced with experimental diabetes type 2.

METHODS

Twenty-four rats were randomly divided in four groups: control (I), ASA control (II), diabetic (III), and ASA diabetic (IV). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin treatment (30 mg/kg, twice, intraperitoneal injection) in obese rats. ASA (150 mg/kg body weight, orally) was administered for 5 weeks in the ASA control and ASA diabetic groups. Serum electrolytes, creatinine, albumin, and total protein levels were analyzed with an autoanalyzer. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and insulin were analyzed by ELISA techniques.

RESULTS

At the end of the study ASA treatments had decreased the fasting blood glucose levels but had interestingly increased the serum AVP levels in diabetics rats.

CONCLUSIONS

AVP levels were increased 2-fold by ASA treatment in diabetic rats. For the first time in this study, the hypoglycemic effect of ASA was attributed to an increase in blood volume by AVP levels. This explanation may be a new approach to the literature on this topic.