Involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in hypoglycaemic activity of tolbutamide

The study was conducted to find the involvement of Nitric Oxide (NO) using L-arginine, a NO precursor and NG-methyl L-arginine a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on tolbutamide activity in normal rabbits. L-arginine (25-300 mg/kg, body weight, oral) produced transient and dose dependent hypoglycaemia. When combined with tolbutamide (40 mg/kg, oral) it produced early and prolonged action. The effect of tolbutamide was blocked by NG-methyl L-arginine (5 mg/kg, body weight, oral). The results confirm the involvement of NO in tolbutamide activity and the possibility of using L-arginine as a supplement to antidiabetic drugs in blood glucose control.