Effect of acarbose (BAY-g-5421) on expression of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in sucrose-fed SHR/N-corpulent rats.

The SHR/N-corpulent (cp) rat exhibits some of the metabolic characteristics associated with human noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). To determine the effect of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose (BAY-g-5421), on expression of NIDDM in this model, young male obese and lean littermates were fed for 12 wk diets containing either 54% starch, sucrose, or sucrose plus acarbose (150 mg acarbose/kg diet). Body weight; fasting levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, insulin and glucose; response levels of insulin and glucose following an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); and total urinary glucose were determined. Supplementation of the sucrose diet with acarbose reduced final body weight in obese rats, as well as serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, response insulin, and urinary glucose in both phenotypes. Glucosuria was normalized in acarbose-treated obese rats. In addition, acarbose improved the glycemic response following OGTT in both phenotypes. These findings demonstrate that acarbose is effective in moderating the metabolic effects of NIDDM in this diabetic rodent model, and suggest that acarbose may have potential in the management of NIDDM in humans.