METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF GLUCOSE MONITORING WITH A SLOW CONTINUOUS SUBCUTANEOUS AND INTRAVENOUS ULTRAFILTRATION SYSTEM IN RATS

A method for the continuous ultrafiltration of venous blood or subcuta neous fluid is demonstrated with glucose monitoring in the living rat. Ultrafiltrate was withdrawn at a constant flow rate of approximately 100 nl/min. Glucose content of the ultrafiltrates was electrochemicall y determined with a flow injection analysis method and a bi-enzyme rea ctor. After glucose loading, the time course of glucose in the ultrafi ltrate from the jugular vein was virtually identical, whereas that fro m the subcutaneous compartment was attenuated and the peaks blunted as compared to glucose levels in concomitantly assayed arterial blood. O ur study demonstrates the potential of low rate ultrafiltration for mo nitoring metabolism with biosensor technology in vivo. (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science Limited.