Hypoglycemic effect of S(-)-hydroxyhexamide, a major metabolite of acetohexamide, and its enantiomer R(+)-hydroxyhexamide

A short-lasting hypoglycemic effect was observed when S(-)-hydroxyhexamide (S-HH), a major metabolite of acetohexarnide, and its enantiomer R(+)-hydro xyhexamide (R-HH), were administered orally to rats. Since the reductive me tabolism of acetohexamide is known to be reversible in rats, oral administr ation of R-HH may exhibit the hypoglycemic effect through the generation of acetohexamide. However, oral administration of R-HH to rabbits, in spite o f their inability to oxidize R-HH to acetohexamide, caused a significant de crease and increase, respectively, of plasma glucose and insulin levels. Fu rthermore, both S-HH and R-HH were found to stimulate the secretion of insu lin from hamster HIT T15 cells (pancreatic beta -cells). These results prov ide further evidence that both R-HH and S-HH exhibit a significant hypoglyc emic effect. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.