Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)

Volume 3, No. 2,  2021

DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/1202.30.0230
Pages 17-32

Antidiabetic and Non-specific Immunomodulatory Effects of Vitamin C and Levamisole in Streptozotocine-Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Aremu, Abdulfatai¹, Akorede Ganiu Jimoh¹, Olatunji Omobolanle Aishat¹, Ahmed Olayiwola Akeem², Raufu Ibrahim Adisa², Afisu Basiru³ and Suleiman Kolawole Yusuf^3
1 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
² Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
³Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secretion associated with chronic hyperglycaemia and disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. Diabetes as a metabolic disease has ability to decrease immune system due to oxidative stress. This study was aimed at assessing the antidiabetic and modulatory effect of levamisole and vitamin C on CD4+ count, weight changes, haematology, serum chemistry and histopathology alteration of streptozocine induced diabetic rats. Experimental rats were allotted to groups (1-7); 1 (control); 2 (Diabetic control); 3 (Levamisole); 4 (Vitamin C); 5 (Metformin); 6 (vitamin C and levamisole); 7 (Vit C, levamisole and metformin). Diabetes was induced using streptozotocine at 65mg/kg administered intraperitoneally. Blood glucose level was monitored using a rapid test strip and glucometer. The CD4+ count was reduced in all the treated diabetic rats when compared with both the two untreated controls. The weights in groups 2, 3, 6 and 7 reduced significantly (P<0.05) while group 4 showed steady weight initially but later reduced significantly (P<0.05) when compared to normoglycaemic control. The haematology showed that all treated groups were not significant to all blood parameters (p>0.05) when compared with the control. The serum chemistry followed the same trend showing a non-significant increase (p>0.05) when compared with the control. Histopathology showed various histoarchitectural changes in the heart, kidney and liver especially in untreated diabetic rats and rats treated with levamisole. Conclusively, the modulatory effect of both levamisole and vitamin C is considerable low in diabetic treated rats when compared to normoglycaemic untreated rats.

Keywords: Vitamin C; Levamisole; Streptozotocine and Male Wistar rats

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