The influence of hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetes on protein synthesis in rat tissues.

We have compared the effects of acute ketotic diabetes on the capacity of isolated ribosomes to carry out protein synthesis with the effects of the non-ketotic but hyperosmolar state developed in rats as a model of the human condition by the procedure described by Joffe et al. These workers concluded that the hyperosmolar non-ketotic condition was consistent with the liver receiving adequate insulin but with the periphery being insulin-deficient. In support of this hypothesis we find that there is no impairment of hepatic protein synthesis as judged by the activity of isolated ribosomes, nor of the proportion of ribosomes in polysomes in the hyperosmolar non-ketotic condition, this being in contrast with the ketotic state, where protein synthesis and polysome levels are markedly reduced. However, the hyperosmolar non-ketotic condition was characterized by a reduced capacity for protein synthesis by ribosomes isolated from kidney and cardiac and skeletal muscle.