The effect of succinic acid monoethyl ester on plasma and tissue glycoproteins in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Succinic acid monoethyl ester (EMS) was recently proposed as an insulinotropic agent for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The present study investigated the effect of EMS and Metformin on dearrangement in glycoprotein levels in the streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabeteic model. Succinic acid monoethyl ester was administered intraperitoneally for 30 days to normal and diabetic rats. The effect of EMS on glucose, insulin, and plasma and tissue glycoproteins were studied. The effect of EMS was compared with Metformin, a reference drug. The levels of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and plasma glycoproteins containing hexose, hexosamine and fucose were increased significantly whereas the level of plasma insulin and haemoglobin were decreased significantly in diabetic rats. There was a significant decrease in the level of sialic acid and elevated levels of hexose, hexosamine and fucose in the liver and kidney of streptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic rats. Administration of EMS to diabetic rats was followed by a decreased level of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and plasma glycoproteins. The levels of plasma insulin, haemoglobin and tissue sialic acid were increased whereas the levels of tissue hexose, hexosamine and fucose were near normal. The present study indicates that the EMS possesses a significantly beneficial effect on the glycoprotein moiety in addition to its antidiabetic effect.