Comparison of the glucose-lowering properties of vanadyl sulfate and bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) following acute and chronic administration.

Numerous studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have demonstrated the insulin-mimetic properties of vanadium. Chronic oral administration of inorganic and organic compounds of both vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) reduced plasma glucose levels and restored plasma lipid levels in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. We investigated the acute effects of both vanadyl sulfate and bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) (BMOV), an organic vanadium compound, on plasma glucose levels by several routes of administration. Previous studies have shown that chronic administration of vanadyl sulfate has resulted in a sustained euglycemia following withdrawal of the drug. This effect was not observed following the chronic administration of BMOV; therefore, we investigated the effect of increasing the concentration of BMOV on the production of a sustained euglycemic response. An acute plasma glucose lowering effect was obtained with both vanadyl sulfate and BMOV when administered as a single dose by either oral gavage or intraperitoneal injection. In those animals that responded to vanadium treatment, plasma glucose levels were within the normal range within 2 to 6 h when given by i.p. injection or within 4 to 8 h when given by oral gavage. BMOV-treated rats that responded to treatment maintained the euglycemic effect for extended periods, ranging from 1 to 14 weeks following administration. However, vanadyl sulfate treated rats reverted to hyperglycemia within 12 to 24 h, depending on the route of administration. Intravenous administration of BMOV was effective in lowering plasma glucose levels only when administered by continuous infusion. An oral dose-response curve showed that BMOV was 2 to 3 times as potent as vanadyl sulfate. This difference in potency was observed with both oral and intraperitoneal administration, which suggests that the increase in potency with BMOV cannot be totally attributed to increased gastrointestinal absorption. Organic chelation of vanadium may facilitate uptake into vanadium-sensitive tissues. Chronic oral administration of higher concentrations of BMOV did not result in a sustained reduction in plasma glucose following withdrawal of the drug. All diabetic rats eventually responded to increased concentrations of BMOV with a restoration of plasma glucose levels to normal values; however, reversion to the hyperglycemic state occurred within 2 days of withdrawal of treatment. Chronic oral administration of BMOV did not produce a sustained euglycemic effect following withdrawal, but acute administration of the compound by either oral gavage or intraperitoneal injection did produce a long-term reduction in plasma glucose levels. Rats treated chronically with vanadyl sulfate remained euglycemic even after the drug was withdrawn. However, acute treatment produced only a transient euglycemia.