Olanzapine, not resperidone, exacerbates β-cell function and mass in ovariectomized diabetic rats and estrogen replacement reverses them

The effect of risperidone and olanzapine on β-cell function and mass was investigated in 90% pancreatectomized and ovariectomized female rats, of which some were treated with estrogen replacement and some were not. Ovariectomized diabetic rats were divided into two groups: one group received daily estrogen replacement (30 μg 17β-estradiol/kg body weight) and the other group received a vehicle. Each group was further divided into three subgroups and orally given either a placebo, risperidone (0.5 mg/kg body weight), or olanzapine (2 mg/kg body weight) each day in conjunction with a high-fat diet for eight weeks. Ovariectomy reduced serum prolactin levels, while risperidone and estrogen replacement increased them. Olanzapine, not risperidone, increased body weight gain and epididymal fats, and impaired glucose tolerance in ovariectomized diabetic rats, while estrogen replacement improved them. This was related to changes in insulin secretion capacity. Ovariectomized rats had decreased β-cell mass, due to decreasing β-cell proliferation, compared with Sham rats, and olanzapine, but not risperidone, caused further reduction. Olanzapine reduced IRS2 protein levels in the islets of ovariectomized rats. Decreased IRS2 attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt and, subsequently, PDX-1 protein levels were lowered in olanzapine-treated rats. Estrogen replacement activated insulin/IGF-1 signaling regardless of treatment. In conclusion, olanzapine, but not risperidone, exacerbated glucose homeostasis partly by attenuating β-cell function and mass in ovariectomized diabetic rats, while estrogen replacement reversed its negative impact. Further human studies are needed to support the claim that olanzapine should be avoided in the treatment of schizophrenic postmenopausal patients with diabetes.