BLOOD-GLUCOSE AND NONENZYMATIC GLYCATION OF PROTEINS IN RATS INJECTEDWITH LOW-DOSE STREPTOZOTOCIN AND FED DIETS EITHER HIGH IN SUCROSE OR STARCH

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of dietary c arbohydrate (CHO) at a set level but in two different forms on non-enz ymatic glycation (NEG) of blood proteins in rats, injected with a low dose of diabetogen. Rational for this approach is that glycemic respon se would be under a greater influence of dietary CHO at threshold dose s of the diabetogenic agent. Therefore, streptozotocin (St) was inject ed (30 mg/kg) into rats fed an AIN76 diet (68.5% of cal as CHO) having a sucrose:starch ratio of 50:15 (SUCROSE DIET) or an equicaloric modi fied diet with a ratio of 15:50 (STARCH DIET). Control rats were fed s imilar diets but injected with buffer. Rats were fed these diets for 1 wk, injected with St and fed 6 more wks. Weights were recorded weekly and blood collected bi-weekly and analyzed for glucose and for glycat ed hemoglobin (Gly Hb) an indicator of NEG. Responses of weight, gluco se levels and Gly Hb within groups of rats varied widely with some St- injected rats having severe diabetic symptoms while others had values resembling controls. No statistically significant differences were not ed in weight, glucose or Gly Hb between dietary groups. It is conclude d that form of CHO has no effect on blood glucose and NEG of proteins in rats in an early diabetic stage.