EFFECTS OF PROTEIN-MALNUTRITION ON GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN RATS WITH ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETES

Citation
Mar. Demello et E. Luciano, EFFECTS OF PROTEIN-MALNUTRITION ON GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN RATS WITH ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETES, Brazilian journal of medical and biological research, 28(4), 1995, pp. 467-470
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Research & Experimental
ISSN journal
0100879X
Volume
28
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
467 - 470
Database
ISI
SICI code
0100-879X(1995)28:4<467:EOPOGI>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
Protein-calorie malnutrition produces glucose intolerance and reduced insulin release in response to glucose. Rats adapted to low- or high-p rotein diets show an increased resistance to the diabetogenic action o f a single dose of streptozotocin or alloxan. To determine the effects of dietary protein level on pancreatic function, we measured serum gl ucose levels under basal conditions and during the oral glucose tolera nce test (GTT) performed before and after a single dose of alloxan adm inistered to rats fed a 25% or a 6% protein diet for a period of 8 wee ks. The incidence of mild hyperglycemia (serum glucose >250 mg/dl) was greater among the rats fed the 25% protein diet (81%) than among thos e fed the 6% protein diet (42%). During the GTT performed before allox an administration the serum glucose levels of the rats fed the 6% prot ein diet were not found to be significantly different from those of ra ts fed the 25% protein diet. During the GTT performed after alloxan in jection all rats showed intolerance to the substrate (serum glucose >1 60 mg/dl 120 min after glucose administration) regardless of whether b asal serum glucose was normal or high. In summary, alloxan was less ef fective in producing basal hyperglycemia in the rats fed the 6% protei n diet than in those fed the 25% protein diet but caused glucose intol erance during the oral GTT in both groups. Thus, it seems that feeding a 6% protein diet to rats offers only partial protection against the toxic effects of alloxan.