Investigation of the influence of vanadium compounds treatment in NZO mice model--preliminary study.

Abstract: New Zealand obese mice (NZO) are characterized by symptoms similar to human metabolic syndrome. Vanadium in different investigations showed anti-diabetic activity but until now an NZO mice model has not been tested with this element. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-diabetic activity of three vanadium compounds (VOSO4, VO(mal)2 and Na(VO(O2)2bpy) x 8H2O) in the NZO model. Metabolic syndrome was induced by special diet (1.5% of cholesterol and 15% of saturated fatty acids) during 8 weeks. In the next 5 weeks, the tested vanadium compounds were administered once daily, in a dose of 0.063 mmol/kg of body mass. At the end of the experiment, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and alanine transaminase were measured in the serum. The obtained results showed that the glucose level was decreased nearly to the healthy NZO mice in comparison to the NZO mice with metabolic syndrome. In all groups on the diet with cholesterol, the level of this parameter was statistically higher in comparison to the group without cholesterol addition. Vanadium treatment in a dose 0.063 mmol/kg of body mass does not influence cholesterol, triglycerides and alanine transaminase activity.