Differential leukocyte counts in German shepherd dogs following Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus involves most physiological functions include hematopoiesis and immune system.  In this research, ten male German shepherd dogs with same age were provided; five dogs were considered as control and  five of them were considered as experimental groups; pre- and post- diabetes induction. The examinations were conducted to guarantee their health and absence of diabetes with Intra-venous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) has been approved, according to Islamic Azad university animal ethics recommendations. Alloxan monohydrate with 100 mg/kg in was injected intravenously for experimental group. The blood samples were collected before and after diabetes induction (after 45 days). Next, leukocytes number includes neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil percents were measured. According to obtained results, eosinophil and basophil rates hadn’t significant changes after diabetes induction. But neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte percents had significant changes after diabetes induction; while neutrophils were 82.3% in diabetic dogs (in comparison with 72.38% for control and 69.53% for pre-diabetes). Lymphocyte and monocyte counts were lower in diabetic dogs when they are compared with pre-diabetic and control measures (lymphocyte: 22.79, 26.24 and 14.59% and monocyte 2.05, 2.58 and 1.81% respectively for control, pre- and post-diabetes groups. It is seem that diabetes-related lymphocytes dysfunction may caused considerable lymphocytes rise in diabetic dogs in comparison with control or pre-diabetes groups. It was concluded that diabetes induction in German shepherd dogs may caused lymphocyte and monocyte numbers and neutrophils rises. It is suggested that impaired glucose and glutamine metabolism in diabetic condition and high demands of neutrophils for these substances may cause neutrophils rises in diabetic dogs. It seems that further studies about possible reasons of leukocytes number changes in diabetic dogs are necessary.