Lipoprotein lipase in experimental diabetic rats: beneficial effect of vanadate treatment.

Elevated values of circulating triglycerides were observed in streptozotocin-hyperglycemic rat while cholesterol concentrations did not differ from controls. Daily oral administration of sodium metavanadate to these diabetic animals normalized blood glucose values without raising the reduced levels of insulin. Concomitant with the normalization of the glycemia, the elevated triglyceride values found in diabetic rats were also corrected. Lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose and cardiac tissues was significantly decreased in the streptozotocin-diabetic animals. Similarly, the hepatic lipase activity was also depressed. After vanadate treatment, lipoprotein lipase as well as hepatic lipase activities were corrected towards normal values. Thus, vanadate treatment of streptozotocin-diabetic animals induces normalization of blood glucose and triglycerides levels, while maintaining low amounts of circulating insulin. It also restores the depressed activities of adipose and cardiac lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase.