ACUTE METABOLIC AND HORMONAL EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED SODIUM N-BUTYRATE IN UNTREATED AND ALLOXAN-DIABETIC SHEEP

Experimental diabetes was induced in 4 wethers of the Mutton Merino br eed by intravenous injection of alloxan (75 mg . kg-1) in order to det ermine its impact on plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin, free fatt y acids (FFA), cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, D-(-)-3-hydr oxybutyrate (D-3-HB), bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) as well as on the changes of these parameters brought about by an intr avenous infusion of sodium n-butyrate (I mmol . kg-1). Alloxan adminis tration caused a significant elevation of plasma glucose, FFA, triglyc erides, cholesterol, phospholipids, D-3-HB and bilirubin and a decreas e of the level of immunoreactive insulin. The increase in glucose leve l brought about by a bolus injection of sodium n-butyrate in untreated sheep did not appear in alloxanized animals. Thus, it is suggested th at the lack of hyperglycaemic response in diabetic sheep was due to th e absence of liver glycogen stores. Unexpectedly in alloxan-diabetic s heep, a decrease in the plasma level of FFA occurred after the adminis tration of sodium n-butyrate. Therefore, it may be assumed that beside insulin other factors may contribute to the decrease of FFA under the se conditions.