Effect of morphine on glucoregulatory hormones [insulin, cortisol and epinephrine] in diabetic and non-diabetic mice

The role of morphine in blood glucose changes has been documented. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hormonal mechanisms involved in changes caused by morphine on blood glucose in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Animals were divided into two, the diabetic and non-diabetic, groups. Each group was further divided into subgroups: 1. Saline+saline 2. Naloxone+morphine and 3. Control [saline+saline]. Blood samples were used for determining the blood glucose as well as for hormonal [insulin, cortisol and epinephrine] analyses. In non-diabetic and diabetic mice, blood glucose was significantly decreased in the saline+morphine group, compared to controls at 3h and 1h respectively, a decrease which compensated in the naloxone+morphine group, compared to saline+morphine group. After 3h, the level of insulin in non-diabetic mice was significantly decreased compared to the controls and was compensated in the naloxone+morphine group. At this time, the level of insulin showed no changes in diabetic animals. The level of cortisol remained constant both in diabetic and non-diabetic animals at 3h. The level of epinephrine displayed a significant decrease in diabetic and non-diabetic mice at 3h when compared to the controls and was compensated in the naloxone+morphine compared to the saline+morphine group. The administration of subcutaneous morphine caused hypoglycemia in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. The hypoglycemia and the decrease of insulin level in non-diabetic mice as well as the unchanged level of this hormone in diabetic animals may suggest an insulin-independent hypoglycemia induced by morphine

[ study on the effect of cinnamon on the structure of the ovary in diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus influences the reproductive system. Since investigations have showed that cinnamon may have an improving effect on diabetes, this study was designed to investigate the effect of cinnamon extract on the ovary structure in diabetic rats. A total of 24 female wistar rats [186 +/- 15gr] were randomly divided into 4 equal groups of control, control + cinnamon extract, diabetic and diabetic + cinnamon extract. Streptozotocin [60 mg/kg] was injected to induce diabetes and cinnamon extract [80 mg/kg/day] was administered orally through gavage. After 14 weeks, blood sugar and body weight were determined then rats were anesthetized and the right ovaries were taken out, weighed and underwent the process of slice preparation and staining by H and E method. The total volume of ovary, cortex and medulla, diameter of Graafian follicle and oocyte and thickness of zona pellucida were estimated by stereological methods. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey test. Blood sugar was reduced significantly in diabetic + extract group compared with diabetic rats. Mean total volume of ovary, cortex and medulla were increased significantly in diabetic group compared with other groups. Mean total volume of ovary, cortex and medulla were the same in diabetic + extract, control and control + extract groups. Body weight in both diabetic groups was reduced significantly compared with control groups. Ovary weight in diabetic group showed a significant increase in comparison to that in the diabetic + extract group. Based on the results, water-alcohol extract of cinnamon causes reduction in blood glucose level and prevents increase in ovary weight and volume of ovary, cortex and medulla in diabetic rats