Trophic effects of vanadium on beta-cells of STZ-induced insulin dependent diabetic rats & evidence for long-term relief of diabetes mellitus.

The effects of one year combined vanadium and insulin treatment (VIT) on blood glucose levels of insulin dependent diabetic (IDD) rats were studied. Rats made diabetic by an i.v. injection of 55-60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), divided into two groups and treated with a low dose of NPH insulin (2-4 U/rat) for two months to survive from hyperglycaemic shock. In group A, hyperglycaemia ameliorated during one year by increasing the daily dose of insulin to 8.2 +/- 0.4 U/100 g (IT) and in group B by switching over to hydrated vanadium solution (1 mg/ml vanadyl oxide sulphate pentahydrate in drinking water; VIT). The results of the study indicated that one year VIT regenerated new beta-cells, and relieved diabetes both during treatment and after withdrawal. However, one year IT showed no trophic effects on the destroyed beta-cells, hence no improvement in the glycaemic status of the animal was seen after withdrawal. The action of VIT was such that in group B normoglycaemeia persisted in 90 per cent of diabetic rats two weeks after insulin withdrawal. But in the same group, 45 days after combined vanadium and insulin withdrawal blood glucose was normal in 60 per cent of the rats, it was between 250-300 mg/dl in 18 per cent and between 350-400 mg/dl in 24 per cent of the rats. In conclusion it appears that long term VIT regenerates pancreatic beta-cells of IDD rats and possibly by improving their secretory functions it relieves diabetes mellitus.