Abstract
Summary
Daily injections of glucosamine (250 mg/kg) for 2 mo caused minimal hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in rats. The activity of liver glucokinase decreased; that of G6P-ase did not change significantly. There was a slight increase in the granularity of the pancreatic β cells, accompanied by a decreased insulin response to a glucose load. The excretion of protein and bound hexosamine in the urine was elevated. The number of mural cells in the retinal capillaries was decreased. These results are consistent with the hypo-thesis that increased glucosamine synthesis in diabetes may be related to the development of microangiopathy.
The authors thank Mr. S. Takeda for his skillful assistance in their histological studies.
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