Changes of glycolytic enzyme activities and plasma insulin levels in diabetic herbivorous voles and KK mice.

Abstract

In the diabetic voles fed with concentrate diet and KK mice, changes in hepatic glycolytic enzyme activities and plasma insulin levels were measured. The hepatic glycolytic enzyme (glucokinase and pyruvate kinase) activities of normal voles and KK mice were about one forth and one half of that of normal C57BL mice, respectively. Both voles and KK mice had the same characteristic which showed that hepatic glycolytic ability was very low. In the slight diabetic voles, glycolytic enzyme activity increased to twice of normal level in proportion to increasing of plasma insulin level, but in the serious diabetic voles plasma insulin level and hepatic glycolytic enzyme activity decreased considerably. In young KK mice without glycosuria, plasma insulin level was considerably high, over three times higher than normal level of C57BL mice. In old KK mice with glycosuria, although plasma insulin level increased moreover, the hepatic glycolytic enzyme activity did not increase. In conclusion, the diabetes of voles is considered to be classified to insulin dependent type and that of KK mice to non-insulin dependent type.