REGULATION AND CONTROL OF GLUCOSE OVERUTILIZATION IN ERYTHROCYTES BY VANADATE

The insulin mimetic effect of vanadate in in vitro incubation of eryth rocytes with high glucose concentrations showed an increase in sorbito l accumulation and glucose utilization using U-C-14-glucose. Aldose re ductase inhibitors and vanadate addition reversed the sorbitol accumul ation, whereas insulin could not reverse it. Increased glucose utiliza tion was also normalized with vanadium compounds. Increased activity o f aldose reductase and sorbitol levels in diabetic animals were also n ormalized with vanadate treatment.