Reduction by streptozocin of blood glucose utilization during the appearance of the streptozocin induced early hyperglycaemia in fasting rats.

During the fasting state, in which the hepatic glycogen storage is almost depleted, streptozocin administration (60 mg/kg, iv) also induces an early hyperglycaemia. It was found that the blood glucose concentration in the hepatic vein was significantly higher than that in the tail vein before and at 4 hours after the injection of the vehicle without streptozocin. However, the blood glucose concentration in the hepatic vein was insignificantly different from that in the tail vein 4 hours after streptozocin administration. The data are interpreted as showing that streptozocin may reduce blood glucose utilization during the period of early hyperglycaemia induced by streptozocin.