Fourty, C57/BL 6j Australian female albino mice were used in these experiments. The experimental induction of tumor was performed by the injection of 0.2ml of Ehrlich ascites adenocarcinoma. (2.5X106 tumor cells) subcutaneusly in the medial aspect of right thigh, whereas the control mice received equal volume of normal saline. Fourteen days post tumor inoculation, tumor bearing (TB) and Non-tumor bearing (NTB) animals were received once daily S. C. injection of either saline or insulin at dose of 2 units/100g total body weight/day for 7 consecutive days. Heparinized blood samples were collected from all animal groups 24 hours after last injection of insulin. Plasma was separated and used directly for estimation of some biochemical parameters as glucose, lactate, insulin, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, total ketone bodies, urea, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations. Moreover, liver specimens were also taken for determination of liver glycogen concentrations. The obtained results revealed that, there was a significant decrease in the value of plasma glucose level in TB-mice, whereas plasma total protein, albumin and liver glycogen concentrations revealed a very highly significant decrease. However, a highly significant decrease in the value of plasma insulin level was also recorded. On the other hand, the value of plasma lactate, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, total ketone bodies and urea concentration showed a very highly significant increase in tumor bearing (TB) mice, comparatively to non tumor bearing (NTB) animals. The relative weights of spleen and liver showed a significant increase in TB-mice.
Insulin administration in TB-mice caused a very highly significant decrease in the values of plasma glucose, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, total ketone bodies and urea concentrations. On the other hand, plasma albumin, total proteins and liver glycogen concentrations were markedly increased. Meanwhile, insulin administration in NTB-mice caused a significant decrease in the values of plasma glucose and free fatty acids concentrations. However, the mean values of plasma triacylglycerols and total ketone bodies levels showed a highly significant decrease after insulin administrations. On contrary, the value of plasma lactate, total proteins, albumin and liver glycogen concentrations were significantly increased. The results of this study indicated that, insulin treatment can reverse the experimental cancer cachexia, and it’s anabolic therapy, has potential benefits in cancer treatment by shifting glucose metabolism toward the host and away from the tumor.
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