Antihyperglycemic effects of M16209, a novel aldose reductase inhibitor, in normal and diabetic rats.

The effect of a single oral administration of M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-yl-sulfonyl)hydantoin), a novel aldose reductase inhibitor, on serum glucose was investigated. In normal rats, M16209 (100 mg/kg) had a weak hypoglycemic effect but markedly stimulated the disappearance of serum glucose in intravenous glucose tolerance tests. In diabetic rats, M16209 (100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the hyperglycemia of streptozotocin-induced, mildly diabetic rats and stimulated serum glucose disappearance in neonatally streptozotocin-induced, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats in glucose tolerance tests. Additionally, M16209 augmented insulin secretion in glucose-loaded, normal and NIDDM rats and restored the reduced serum insulin in streptozotocin-induced, mildly diabetic rats. M16209, however, showed no hypoglycemic effect in severely diabetic rats. In contrast, gliclazide, a sulfonylurea, showed a much more potent hypoglycemic effect in normal rats than in mildly diabetic rats. These results suggest that M16209 suppresses hypoglycemia through augmentation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The antihyperglycemic activity of M16209, combined with its potent aldose reductase inhibiting activity, is expected to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetic complications.