Protective effect of diltiazem hydrochloride on the occurrence of alloxan- or streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

This study demonstrated that 20 mg/kg of the Ca2+ channel blocker, diltiazem hydrochloride, administered by intraperitoneal injection 15 min before 200 mg/kg of alloxan given by the same route to induce diabetes, served to suppress disease onset completely in rats. Even though 48-h fasting promoted the onset of alloxan diabetes, 40 mg/kg of diltiazem hydrochloride completely prevented the occurrence of diabetes induced by intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg of alloxan. Forty mg/kg of the same agent, however, failed to prevent the onset of diabetes induced by the intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). From the fact that Ca2+ channel blockers such as nicardipine, verapamil and bepridil have a similar suppressive effect on the occurrence of alloxan diabetes, one may readily infer that this action is characteristic of Ca2+ channel blockers. Moreover, the results suggest the close connection of Ca2+ in the occurrence of alloxan diabetes in rats.