The present work was done to investigate the effect of selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor sertraline on the hormonal regulation of blood glucose in normal and
diabetic male albino rats. This work was carried out on 36 male albino rats. The rats
were weighed and divided into two groups, A-Normal group: subdivided into three
subgroups: Group (1): is the control group, group (2): treated by oral administration
of sertraline in a dose of 30mg/kg/day through intragastric tube for one week,
group(3): treated by oral sertraline in a dose of 30mg/kg/day through intragastric
tube for three weeks. B-Diabetic group: diabetes was induced by single injection of
50mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitonealy to all rats, then rats subdivided into 3
subgroups. Group(1): is the control diabetic group, group (2): diabetic rats treated by
oral administration of sertraline 30mg/kg/day through intragastric tube for one week,
group(3): diabetic rats treated by oral administration of sertraline 30mg/kg/day
through intragastric tube for three weeks. At the end of the experiment, rat were
fasted for night, weighed, scarified, and blood samples were collected for
determination of glucose, catecholamines, glucagon, ACTH, corticosterone and
insulin levels. The results showed significant reduction of blood glucose in normal
and diabetic groups after one and three weeks of treatment by sertraline. Epinephrine
was significantly increased after one and three weeks of treatment in normal and
diabetic groups. Norepinephrine and glucagon were significantly increased after
three weeks treatment by sertraline in normal and diabetic groups. Non significant
change of insulin, ACTH, corticosterone and body weight in normal and diabetic
groups. It is concluded that sertraline treatment induced hypoglycemia and stimulated
adrenomedullary response. It is recommended to use sertraline in diabetic patients,
and to reduce the dose of antidiabetic drugs during sertraline treatment.