In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of aspirin in preventing type 2 diabetes in rats. At 5 days old, rat pups were divided into four groups. Group I pups received citrate buffer solution and served as control; group II was treated only with streptozotocin (80 mg/kg i.p.) and served as the diabetic control; groups III and IV were treated with aspirin (10 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 1 and 2 months, respectively, after streptozotocin treatment and served as treated groups. During weeks 8 and 10, blood samples were collected from all animals and fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity were determined. Treatment of rat pups with aspirin for 1 and 2 months after streptozotocin injection produced a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance levels and elevation of fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity compared with the diabetic control pups. The results of the present study suggest that aspirin treatment prevents the development of type 2 diabetes by reducing insulin resistance and elevating fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity. It also seems to protect the pancreas from damage caused by streptozotocin and maintains glucose levels near normal in diabetic rats.
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