RAPID-DETERMINATION OF HEMOGLOBIN A(1C) AND GLUCOSE IN MICE - STRAIN DIFFERENCES, GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE TESTS AND THE NEONATAL STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC MODEL

Blood glucose and Haemoglobin A(1c), (HbA(1c)) levels were evaluated f rom sequestrated blood samples from mice, using a combination of the A ntsense II and DCA-2000 analysers, and using only 6 mu l whole blood. The difference between fed and fasted blood glucose and HbA(1c) concen trations among four strains of mice (inbred C57BL/6N, C3H/HeN, hybrid B6C3F1 and outbred CD-1) was examined, and glucose tolerance was furth er evaluated in each strain by an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance te st (IPGTT) using this apparatus. There was considerable variation betw een fed and fasted glucose and HbA(1c) concentrations, with C3H/HeN mi ce being the most glucose tolerant and CD-1 mice the least glucose tol erant. These findings did not contradict previous observations. A time -course study was also carried out of the levels of blood glucose and HbA(1c) of mice with experimentally induced diabetes produced by strep tozotocin (STZ). STZ-induced diabetic mice (C57BL/6N, B6C3F1 and CD-1) displayed a transient hyperglycaemia with onset at 2-6 h post-dose, w ith a return to values in the hypoglcyaemic range 8-12 h later. A furt her rise in blood glucose was noted at 24 h (C57BL/6N and CD-1 mice), and four days after treatment (B6C3F1 mice). These findings were in ag reement with previous observations in rats. HbA(1c) levels were signif icantly elevated at three, five or nine days after treatment in CD-1, C57BL/6N and B6C3F1, respectively, and parallel the glycaemic changes. In contrast, there were no changes in blood glucose or HbA(1c) of C3H /HeN mice. It is considered that the combination of the DCA-2000 and A ntsense II analysers give rapidly valid and satisfactory HbA(1c)/blood glucose results in mice with only a small amount of blood.