ABSTRACT
There is a data gap in the relationship between chronic carbon monoxide intoxication and diabetes mellitus manifestation. This study aims to investigate if a cause-effect relationship exists using rabbits as a choice animal model. A total of twenty rabbits were used for the study comprising equal age and weight-matched control and experimental groups. The experimental group was further divided into 10th day, 20th day and 30th CO intoxicated sub-groups. Vitreous and serum glucose, proteins, lipids, electrolytes and renal function parameters were measured using WHO-approved methods. One-way ANOVA (Post hoc-LSD) and Pearson correlational analysis were used for the data analysis. The result showed a progressive significant increase (p < 0.05) in concentrations of vitreous glucose, urea and creatinine in the experimental groups, while the concentrations of vitreous total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, globulins, sodium, potassium and pH decreased significantly. In the same vein, the concentrations of serum glucose, triglyceride, and sodium increased significantly (p < 0.05), whereas concentrations of serum cholesterol, total proteins, globulins, potassium, and pH activity decreased significantly. Correlational relationships were also observed between glucose and some associated parameters in the vitreous humour and serum. In conclusion, some of the vitreous and serum biochemical parameters altered followed a similar predictive pattern and usual pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, we found that chronic CO intoxication could be included amongst the environmental agents known to be a causative agent of diabetes mellitus.