Effects of chronic oral nickel chloride administration on glycaemia and renal function in normal and diabetic rats

Effects of nickel on glycaemia are conflicting. We have investigated the effects of oral administration of nickel chloride for 5 weeks on glycaemia and renal function in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. The results show increase (P< 0.05) in plasma glucose and sodium and decrease (P< 0.05) in insulin concentrations only in normal experiment by comparison with normal control. Plasma potassium concentration was elevated (P< 0.05) only in diabetic experiment by comparison with diabetic control. Plasma urea levels were raised (P< 0.05) in both groups of experiments by comparison with respective controls and plasma creatinine level was elevated (P< 0.05) only in diabetic experiment. GFR was reduced (P< 0.05) only in normal experiment by comparison with control. Kidney weights in normal and diabetics were not effected by nickel chloride administration. Total food and water intakes in normal and diabetic experiments were lower by comparison with respective controls. These were accompanied by failure to increase body weights. In addition, total urine volume and sodium were reduced in normal and diabetic experiments. Urine potassium was lower only in normal experiment by comparison with normal control. We conclude that chronic nickel chloride administration induces hyperglycemia possibly through reduction in blood insulin levels and could be toxic to renal function.