Introduction: Introduction: Diabetes is a part of the metabolic diseases that caused by defects in the secretion of insulin and or in Insulin function. Diabetes mellitus causes a long-term damage to various parts of the bod such as nervous system. Diabetes might lead to the depression and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiety-like behavior of diabetic rats using a plus maze.
Methods: In this experimental study, 28 male Wistar rats weighing 150-180 g were used. The rats were accustomed for one week and randomly divided into four groups including control, diabetic, and diabetics treated with 0.5% or 5% apple vinegar soloution. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. Apple vinegar was orally treated for 45 days. At the end of administeration, anxiety-like behavioral was evaluated by a plus maze; each rat was evaluated for 3 times in 3 consecutive days (6 min/time). The average of behavioral data considered as the final result for each rat. As well as, the fasting blood surge level was measured. Data analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests in SPSS 19 software.
Results: Apple vinegar at 5% and 0.5% concentrations significantly lowered the fasting blood sugar level in diabetics (p<0.05); both concentrations also increased the open arms’ entries and present time in those arms as compared to diabetic and intact groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Apple vinegar at both concentrations studied decreased blood sugar and reduced anxiety in diabetes.
Keywords: Diabetes, Anxiety behavior, Plus maze, Rat