The physiological behavior of glucosane.

Abstract

The anhydrosugar, glucosane (C₆H₁₀O₅), and its polymer, tetra-glucosane, are widely used in Germany in the dietary treatment of diabetes. These substances are reputed to be oxidized by the diabetic since, according to Nothmann and Kühnau 1 and others, no extra urinary sugar results after its administration, no rise in blood sugar occurs thereafter, and an antiketogenic and protein sparing action follows its ingestion. It is likewise claimed to be glycogenic.

In the present paper we have investigated the behavior of “Salabrose,” a commercial tetra-glucosane preparation obtained from Germany, and have administered it orally, subcutaneously, and intraperitoneally to normal and phlorhizinized dogs. In order to determine whether glucosane might be excreted unchanged in the urine or feces following its administration, it has been quantitatively determined by reconversion to glucose by boiling for a short interval with dilute mineral acid. It was found that boiling for 15 minutes with 20 or 30 per cent HC1 destroyed appreciable quantities of this substance, while boiling with a HC1 concentration of 5 per cent of the same length of time completely hydrolyzed it to glucose. After neutralization the glucose obtained by this hydrolysis was determined by the usual methods. In diabetic urines this procedure was found to be satisfactory, the glucosane being equivalent to the total glucose (after hydrolysis) minus the preformed glucose.

When 30 gram doses of salabrose were fed to normal or phlorhizinized dogs no increase in the glucose excretion was noted, a result in harmony with the earlier reported German work. However, no rise in respiratory quotient was noted in normal or phlorhizinized dogs following its oral administration, indicating that only a slight oxidation, if any, occurred after its ingestion. The same amount of glucose, when fed to a fasting dog, resulted in a prompt rise in respiratory quotient.