Percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin and serum concentration of glucose in the blood of Japanese macaques and in three exotic ruminant species.

Serum glucose concentrations and percentages of glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) were determined in 16 Japanese macaques and in 19 exotic ruminants (4 markhor, 5 mouflon, 10 aoudad). Mean (+/- SD) serum glucose concentration and GHb percentage in the Japanese macaques were 73 +/- 21.8 mg/dl and 4.7 +/- 0.82%, respectively. Serum glucose concentration was considered within the normal range for this species. The mean GHb percentage was within the normal range for man, indicating that GHb may be a valid indicator of long-term mean serum glucose concentration in the Japanese macaque. Mean serum glucose concentrations in the markhor, mouflon, and aoudad were 110 +/- 23.2, 111.4 +/- 37.1, and 132.5 +/- 38.5 mg/dl, respectively, and were considered within the normal ranges for these species. Mean GHb percentages for each of the 3 ruminant species were 0.425, 1.04, and 0.74%, respectively, which may have been below the range of accuracy for the testing procedure used, probably due to low erythrocyte permeability to glucose rather than to a shortened erythrocyte lifespan.