Effects of Administration of Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH) on Some Hematological Values of Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

This study was designed to evaluate the role of alpha- melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on heart rate and some hematological values in alloxan induced diabetic rats. 40 male white rats were divided into four experimental groups: control, diabetic, α-MSH-treated and α-MSH-treated diabetic. At the end of the experimental period (3weeks), animals in all four groups were fasted for 12 hrs and blood samples were taken for the determination of plasma insulin, Glucagon, glucose levels, RBC and WBC (red and white blood cell) counts, packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. It was found that (α-MSH) increased the lowered RBC and WBC counts, PCV and neutrophil percentage in diabetic rats. However the WBC counts of the (α-MSH) treated diabetic group was still lower than the control and (α-MSH) group. (α-MSH) also decreased the elevated heart rate, ESR and glucose concentration of diabetic rats. The hormone was investigated for hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats and induced not significant reduction in serum glucose from (19.83±1.25 MmolL) in diabetic group to (15.7±1.10 MmolL) in (α-MSH)-treated diabetic group. However the blood glucose still higher than the control and (α-MSH) group, serum insulin increased from (0.55±0.08 ng mL^-1) in control group to (0.65±0.06 ng mL^-1) in α-MSH-treated group and still higher than control in α-MSH-treated diabetic (0.59±042 ng mL^-1) and serum Glucagon increased in diabetic, α-MSH-treated and α-MSH-treated diabetic groups. It is concluded that treatment (α-MSH) might decrease the diabetes-induced disturbances of heart rate and some hematological parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.