Effect of dexamethasone pretreatment on alloxan induced diabetic rabbit model

Objective To investigate the effect of dexamethasone pretreatment on alloxan induced diabetic rabbit model.Methods Male New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups according to whether being pretreated with dexamethasone and administratiou times of alloxan.Fatality and success rate between the groups were compared. Results The success rate in dexamethasone pretreated group was 66.67％ ( once administration) and 83.33％ ( twice administration),that of unpretreated group was 16.67％ ( once administration) and 41.67％ ( twice administration).In the whole animals dexamethasone pretreatcd group witb twice administration show the highest success rate.The fatality in dexamethasone pretreated group was 25.00％ ( once administration) and 0.00％ ( twice administration),that of un - pretreated group was 83.33％ ( once administration) and 41.67％ (twiceadministration).In the whole animals dexamethasone pretreated group with twice administration show the lowest fatality.Conclusions Dexamethasone pretreatment especially combined with alloxan twice administration could enhance the success rate of diabetic rabbit induced by alloxan. Moreover,the fatality was decreased significantly and induction period was shortened.Therefore,it is the idcal strategy to induce diabetic rabbit model. Key words: Diabetes; Animal model; Alloxan; Dexamethasone