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Year : 1978  |  Volume : 26  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 6-8

Hypoglycaemic effect of `Catalin' an anti-cataract agent in rabbits, (a preliminary study)


1 Department of Pharmacology, Dr. V.M. Medical College, Solapur, India
2 Hon. Ophthalmic Surgeon, Kaukubai Eye Hospital Solapur, India
3 Deptt. of Biochemistry, Dr. V.M. Medical College Solapur, India
4 Department of Physiology, M.R.M. Medical College, Gulberga, India

Correspondence Address:
A G Chandorkar
Department of Pharmacology, Dr. V.M. Medical College, Solapur
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


PMID: 711283

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How to cite this article:
Chandorkar A G, Albal M V, Bulakh P M, Jain P K. Hypoglycaemic effect of `Catalin' an anti-cataract agent in rabbits, (a preliminary study). Indian J Ophthalmol 1978;26:6-8

How to cite this URL:
Chandorkar A G, Albal M V, Bulakh P M, Jain P K. Hypoglycaemic effect of `Catalin' an anti-cataract agent in rabbits, (a preliminary study). Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1978 [cited 2024 Mar 19];26:6-8. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1978/26/1/6/31446

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Table 1

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Table 1

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Catalin, a pyridophenexazine compound, resembling xanthematin, an eye pigment of the insects has been introduced in Japan as an anti­cataract agent[9]. It was claimed to prevent the deterioration of visual `acuity and to arrest the development of senile cataracts[1],[3],[5],[6],[7],[8] Recently this drug has also been shown to prevent the development of alloxan induced diabetic cataracts in rats and rabbits accompanied by reduction in incidence of hyperglycemia in rats. [4] In our clinical trial, Catalin instillation produced arrest of aggravation in visual acuity in 28.57% of diabetic cataracts.[2] However, neither the mecha­nism of this action nor the effect of Catalin per se had been studied. Hence this preliminary study was undertaken and the effect of Catalin was studied on blood sugar level in rabbits.


  Material and Methods Top


Rabbits of either sex weighing between 1. 1 to 2 Kg were kept fasting overnight and used for the experi­ments. Blood was collected by ear cut with sharp blade from the marginal ear veins. The samples were collected before Catalin administration i.e. zero minute and at 10, 30 and 60 minutes and then at one hourly interval for 4 hours. A sample was also collected at the end of 24 hours.

Blood sugar was estimated by the colorimetric method of Folin & Wu. Catalin was administered in the dose of 5 and 10 mg/kg subcutaneously and 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg intravenously to a group of ten rabbits each. A dose of 10 mg/kg produced hypoglycemic convul­sions in two rabbits when administered and hence was not used for further study. A fresh aqueous suspension was prepared and the dose was adjusted each time so that volume of injection never exceeded 0.5 to I ml.


  Results Top


Catalin produced an immediate significant fall in blood sugar of 28.4% and 42.0% respec­tively, when administered in doses of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg intravenously. The hypoglycemic effect lasted for about 1 hour [Table - 1]. On the other hand, when administered by the subcutane­ous route it produced a significant, though lesser, fall of 7.1% and 13.2% at 1 hour and the hypoglycemic effect lasted for about 4 hours. A small non-significant hypoglycemic effect was also observed after 24 hours in 10 mg/kg subcutaneous dose [Table - 2].


  Discussion Top


Our preliminary study shows that Catalin has a significant hypoglycemic effect when administered either by subcutaneous or intravenous route. This hypoglycaemic effect may be responsible for preventing the development of alloxan induced diabetic cataracts in rats and rabbits and in preventing the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia as well in these animals, when administered by subcutaneous route in rats and intraperitoneally in rabbits, as reported by Iwata[4].

The availability of the drug from the site of injection appears to be responsible for its dura­tion of action. Catalin injected subcutaneously may be absorbed into general circulation com­paratively at a slow rate and hence may be producing a less potent but more persistent hypoglycaemic effect, than when given by intra­venous route. Bio-availability studies are hence necessary for the confirmation of this possibility.

It would also be interesting to study whether the drug is absorbed from conjunctiva when used as an eye drops.

Further work in alloxan induced experimental diabetes and in pancreatectomized rabbits is undertaken to elucidate its mechanism of hypo­glycaemic action.


  Summary Top


Catalin, a pyrido-phenoxazine derivative, introduced as an anticataract agent, was investi­gated for its effect on blood sugar levels in rabbits. It produced a significant dose-dependant hypoglycaemic response lasting for about one hour when administered by I.V. route end for three to four hours when administered by subcutane­ous route, in a dose range of 2.5-10 mg/kg. A higher dose of 10 mg/kg I.V. produced even hypoglycaemic convulsions.


  Acknowledgement Top


Authors are thankful to The Dean, Dr. V.M. Medical College, Solapur for facilities given to undertake this work and to M/S SENJU Phar­maceutical Co., Japan for supply of catalin.

 
  References Top

1.
Albal, M.V., Chandorkar, A.G. and Jain, P.K., 1976, Proc. of 5th Afro-Asian Congress of Ophthalmology.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Albal, M.V. and Chandorkar, A.G., 1977, Proc.of All India Ophthal. Soc., Vol. XXXIII, Session XXXVI.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Asayama, R. Shirakami, T. and Amatsu, M.,. 1960, Jap. J. Clin. Ophthal., 14, 789.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Iwata, S. 1976, Proc. of 5th Afro-Asian Congress of Ophthal.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Komi. T. and Uchida, S., 1962, Jap. J. Clin.Ophthal., 14, 959.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Nishimura, F. 1960, Jap. Rev. Clin. Ophthal., 54, 3, 255.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Nishimura, K. and Shimizu, H., 1958, Jap. Rev, Clin. Ophthal., 52, 6, 576.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Ochiai, T., 1966, Jap. Rev. Clin. Ophthal., 60, 7,641.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Ogino, S., 1958, Jap. J. Clin. Ophthal., 12,591.  Back to cited text no. 9
    



 
 
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