Streptozotocin Induced Acute Clinical Effects in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
OBJECTIVE
Streptozotocin (STZ) is used for induction of Type-1 diabetes mellitus in animal models. Its beta-cytotoxic action results in sudden release of insulin leading to severe hypoglycaemia and even mortality. However, its sensitivity varies with species. Present investigation was aimed at studying STZ induced acute clinical effects in rabbits.


METHODS
Streptozotocin @ 65 mg/kg b.w. was administered to thirteen New Zealand White rabbits, 1-1.5 kg body weight, as single intravenous dose in 1mL citrate buffer, pH 4.6. Blood glucose levels were recorded before drug administration and then at 20 min, 1h, and hourly up to 9 hours post-treatment followed by intravenous and oral glucose therapy. Clinical signs were noted.


RESULTS
STZ caused immediate hyperglycaemia up to 4 hours, and then progressively severe hypoglycaemia up to 9 hours. Hypoglycaemia caused characteristic behavioural alterations including lethargy, dullness, sitting quietly but appearing alert, followed by aesthesia and then muscular weakness with characteristic postural changes starting from drooping of head and torticollis, Rabbits recovered following glucose therapy. Marked individual variations in response vis-a-vis onset and severity of glycaemic changes were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
STZ induced a characteristic multiphasic immediate response in rabbits similar to one reported in other rodents. Behavioural changes were characteristic of hypoglycaemia warranting early management in order to avoid fatalities.
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Masood
M
Saleem Mir
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Mohammad
M
Maqbool Darzi
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Omer
O
Khalil Baba
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Hilal Musadiq
HM
Khan
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Shayaib Ahmad
SA
Kamil
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Asif Hassan
AH
Sofi
Division of Veterinary Pathology, F.V.Sc. & A.H, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir (J&K), India.
Sarfraz Ahmad
SA
Wani
Experimental Model; Rabbits; Signs And Symptoms; Streptozotocin