Experimental studies on the glycogen content and the incorporation of radioglucose into the glycogen of the diaphragm of rats after initial and short term administration of buformin.

Abstract

After a short term oral administration of 25 mg buformin per animal (100–125 mg/kg/day) and final intraperitoneal injection of glucose we found a significantly increased content of glycogen in the diaphragm of normal male and female rats together with a higher incorporation of glucose. The latter effect was not observed if the last dose of buformin was given 24 h before the investigation. No effect on glycogen content or glucose incorporation into the glycogen was measurable after daily administration of 2.5 mg buformin per animal for 14 days or a single dose of 25 mg buformin per animal. The present investigation confirms the clinical experience that the effect of biguanides is seen only after some days of treatment.