Involvement of potassium channels in hypoglycemic effect of sertraline

Abstract

Effect of 21 days administration of sertraline (30 mg/kg, po) in streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, ip) induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats produced hypoglycemia in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Pinacidil (1mg/kg, po), when co-administered with sertraline or glimepiride antagonized the decrease in glucose levels in diabetic rats. Pinacidil (10 ^-6-10^-3<i style="">M</i>) produced dose dependent relaxation (EC₅₀-1.58×10^-5<i style="">M</i>). Neither sertraline nor glimepiride had any effect on the resting tension of ileum preparation. Both sertraline and glimepiride antagonized competitively the pinacidil-induced relaxation. The pA₂ values of sertraline and glimepiride reversal of pinacidil-induced relaxation were 5.5 and 6.2 respectively. These studies suggest the involvement of K⁺ channels in hypoglycemic effects of sertraline.