Pantoprazole As An Antidiabetic Agent – Evaluation Of Its Effect On Blood Glucose Levels And Pancreas Pathology In Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes

Ashwini V, Suresha RN, Lokraj S. JSS MEDICAL COLLEGE, JSS UNIVERSITY, MYSORE, KARNATAKA, India

The hypoglycaemic effect of proton pump inhibitors came into attention by noticed improvement in HbA1c levels in diabetic patients when taking these drugs for various indications.(1)This has been tested with some proton pump inhibitors. A study by us with Pantoprazole showed hypoglycaemic effect in normal albino rats tested by Oral glucose tolerance test.(2)The possible mechanisms of such effect are speculated to be mainly by multiple effects at the level of enteroinsular axis by producing endogenous hypergastrinaemia (3) but specific effect on pancreas has not been well described. The aim of this study was to evaluate Pantoprazole for possible antidiabetic effect and its effect on pancreas in diabetes.

Adult male albino Wistar rats(N=6) received intraperitoneal Streptozotocin(40mg/kg) in 0.1M citrate buffer(pH 4.5) to induce diabetes.The diabetic rats (blood glucose levels >250 mg/d)L were given either vehicle 1ml/rat - (Diabetic Control Group) or Pantoprazole 4mg/kg BW(Pantoprazole group) orally for 4 weeks. Blood glucose level estimation using glucometer was done regularly. Pancreatic weight and histopathological analysis of pancreas was done.Blood glucose levels on different days of testing (as mean ± SEM) were analyzed by one way ANOVA ,repeated measures ANOVA and the pancreatic weight/ body weight ratio(as mean ± SEM) was analyzed using unpaired t-test. Treatment with Pantoprazole produced significant improvement in blood glucose levels compared to Diabetic Control(p<0.05)(Fig. 1). The pancreas weight/Body weight ratio was significantly more(P <0.05) with Pantoprazole(0.005755± 0.0002741) than the Diabetic control group(0.002578± 0.0001213). Histopathological analysis by light microscopy showed significant improvement in the number and morphology of islets/beta cells of the pancreas in the Pantoprazole group than the Diabetic Control.

Fig. 1-line diagram of blood glucose levels

To conclude, Pantoprazole has antidiabetic effect in streptozotocin induced diabetes in albino Wistar rats as evidenced by the improved blood glucose levels and improved pancreatic beta cell volume, morphology in this group.

1. Crouch MA et al,J Am Board Fam Med 25 :50, 2012.

2. Ashwini V et al, International Journal of Pharma and Bio sciences 3): 516, 2012.

3. Rickels MR & Elahi D. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97:E1780, 2012.