SEX-DIFFERENCES IN GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN IN DIABETIC AND NONDIABETIC C57BL 6 MICE/

Pathophysiological implications of gender may be important in a number of disease states. We therefore decided to study the influence of gen der on glycation in mice. Plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin level s were determined by ion exchange (HbA(1c)) and/or affinity chromatogr aphy (GHb) in C57BL/6 ob/ob mice during the onset and subsequent decli ne of hyperglycemia. In preweanling ob/ob mice, glucose and glycated h emoglobin concentrations were equal to those of lean sex-matched contr ols. Shortly after weaning, plasma glucose in ob/ob mice increased to reach a maximum between 2 and 3 months of age, then declined over the next several weeks to levels within the range of lean mice. HbA(1c) va lues were closely associated with the glycemic changes. Male mice of b oth phenotypes consistently had higher values of glycated hemoglobin a t a given glucose value than did females. Disappearance rates of chrom ium-labeled erythrocytes were slightly higher in lean female mice than in other subgroups but after correcting for phenotype/sex differences in blood volume, no phenotype or gender differences in RBC lifespan w ere observed. We conclude that there are gender differences in glycati on of hemoglobin in mice and that factors other than RBC turnover are associated with the gender effects in both obese and lean mice.