ABSTRACT
The present study examined the probable of opioid receptors in alloxan induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Two groups of albino rats were examined, control group and alloxan induced diabetes mellitus group. The diabetic group was further subdivided into two subgroups, one was treated with morphine and the other with naloxone. Morphine sulfate was injected intravenously in a dose of 0.25 mg/rat over 10 minutes. Naloxone hydrochloride was injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 50 ug/rat over 20 minutes period in the naloxone treated diabetic group. Fasting glucose and insulin blood levels were measured immediately after the injections in all groups. After morphine injection fasting blood glucose was significantly reduced and insulin level was significantly increased in the first diabetic group. After naloxone injection fasting blood glucose was reduced slightly, but not significantly compared to the preinjection level in the second diabetic group. The results suggested the opposite role of morphine and naloxone in the diabetic rats compared to their role in the nondiabetic rats. The results also suggested a probable role of opioid receptors in the management of diabetes mellitus