Some metabolic effects of cyproheptadine in rats

ABSTRACT

The effects of the antihistaminic and antiserotonin agent [cyproheptadine] [CPH] in doses of 1, 2 and 4 mg/Kg twice daily orally for 10 days on the blood glucose and plasma lipids levels in male albino rats have been studied. CPH in a dose of 1 mg/Kg produced no significant changes neither in the fasting [FBG] nor in the postprandial [PBG] blood glucose levels. Doses of 2 mg and 4 mg/Kg [CPH] produced on day 5 of treatment a significant increase [P < 0.05] in the FBG which progressed to reach a high level of significance [P < 0.001] on day 7 and 10 of treatment. The PBG measured on day 8 of treatment showed also a highly significant increase [P < 0.001] Histo-logical examination of pancreas from animals killed on day 10 of treatment revealed marked disappearance of the secretory granules in beta cells. The increase in the FBG and PBG and the morphological changes in the pancreas proved to be reversible since they disappeared 8 days after discontinuation of treatment. CPH produced no significant change in the plasma lipids measured on day 10 of treatment. Twice daily treatment for 10 days with an antihistamine [pheneramine maleate, 25 mg/Kg] plus an antiserotonin [Pizotifen, 2.5 mg/Kg], a combination with actions simulating those of CPH, proved to have no effect on the FBG, PBG and the plasma lipids