Diabetes in the sand-rat: Diabetogenesis, responses to mannoheptulose and atriplex ash

Abstract

Diabetes was induced in sand rats by increasing the dietary intake of calories. The development of diabetes was followed by progressively greater hyper-glycaemic levels in the glucose tolerance test and the appearance of cataract, glucosuria and obesity. Ketonuria was never seen. Diabetic sand rats had a slightly elevated BMR and an RQ of approximately 1. They responded to D-mannoheptulose with hyperglycaemia but not with reduced RQ. Atriplex halimus ash did not reduce the hyperglycaemic response to glucose, though it has been reported to do so in alloxanized rats. Alloxanized rats were shown to retain responsiveness to D-mannoheptulose and it is speculated that response to D-mannoheptulose may be dependent on secretion of glucagon. © 1972 Springer-Verlag.