Sex-related canatoxin-induced blood glucose alterations in the rat

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to characterize sex-related canatoxin-induced blood glucose alterations in rats. Chronic administration of canatoxin (50 mU, ip, daily for 3 days) induced hypoglycemia in female rats (N = 6) (-36.54 + or - 3.24%, P<0.05). The response of pregnant rats (N = 8) was similar to that observed for male rats (+29.57 + or - 4.70%). Administration of canatoxin did not modify blood glucose levels of gonadectomized male or female rats. Similarly, pretreatment of intact male or female rats with human chorionic gonadotropin (40 IU/kg, im) blocked the effect of canatoxin on blood glucose levels. Gonadal steroid replacement (testosterone, 10 mg/kg,im) for gonadectomized male rats did not reverse the inhibition of canatoxin-induced blood glucose alterations, whereas pretreatment of intact female rats (N = 6) with tetosterone (10 mg/kg, im) significantly attenuated the canatoxin-induced hypoglycemia. These data indicate that the blood glucose alterations produced by canatoxin in rats are under hormonal regulation