Plasma 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (AG) is a marker of the diabetic state and also reflects
the glycosuria induced by hyperglycemia but not by renal pathology. To investigate
the benefits of the AG determination in order to diagnose diabetes in BB/Wor//Tky
rats, AG was measured in non-diabetic (n = 104) and diabetic (n = 113) BB/Wor//Tky
rats. AG was significantly higher in non-diabetic rats than in diabetic rats (25.2
± 9.3 vs 4.1 ± 7.4 µg/ml, mean ± SD, p < 0.001). The best cut-off level for AG (8.5
µg/ml) was highly specific (100%) for ruling out diabetes and fairly sensitive (82.3%)
to detect diabetes. Based on the AG cut-off levels, 90% of false-negative diabetic
rats (18/20) were observed within 4 days after the onset of diabetes, which corresponded
to 38.3% in diabetic rats (18/47) at that time. The false-negative diabetic rats and
positive rats could be effectively distinguished based on the cumulative points given
according to the urinary glucose after the onset of diabetes, 1 point for each cross
[+] indicating glycosuria using the Testape, i.e. 2 or less points false negative
and 4 or more points for diabetic rats in the first 4 days. In conclusion, there is
a close inverse relation between the level of plasma AG and the amount of glycosuria
detected just after the onset of overt diabetes in BB/Wor//Tky rats.
Key words
1,5-Anhydro-D-Glucitol - Urinary Glucose - Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus - BB/Work//Tky
Rat
