Abstract

Previous studies reported on relationship between chloroquine administration, insulin and glucose homeostasis, but the role of dietary fat and the combined effect of the drugs on liver function have not been exploited. The present study was set up to investigate the effect of combined administration of insulin and chloroquine on serum transferase and phosphates activity during increased dietary fat and calcium consumption. Thirty (30) adult male albino rats randomly assigned into five (5) groups were used in the study. Group A was placed on normal diet (normal control); B (test control) C, D, and E were placed on an increased dietary fat and calcium. Drugs were administered as follows: group C, insulin (100 µg/kg body weight once daily); group D, chloroquine (Imarsel Chemical Co. Ltd., Chinon, Hungary, 15 mg/kg body weight) thrice weekly over a period of 12 weeks, and group E, chloroquine combined with insulin. All rats were sacrificed after 15 weeks treatment period. Blood was withdrawn and activities of the enzymes were determined. Combined administration of the drugs increased serum alanine amino transferase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphate activity and decreased acid phosphatase activity. The result suggests that combined administration of insulin and chloroquine may result in hepatic injury particularly in individual whose dietary regimen includes increased fat and calcium.

Key words: Chloroquine, insulin, liver function, transaminases, phosphatases, dietary calcium, fat.