alpha-Methyl-D-glucoside uptake in renal cortical slices of normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits.

The uptake of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside by slices of renal cortex was compared in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits. Alloxanized rabbit tissue showed significantly higher levels of sugar accumulation than normal tissue. Diamide, which is known to oxidize intracellular glutathione (GSH), inhibited the uptake of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside by renal cortical slices. GSH stimulated sugar uptake and was also capable of reversing the inhibition of sugar accumulation caused by diamide. Mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, which are commonly used thiol compounds, were not as effective as GSH in stimulating sugar uptake. The level of GSH found in normal and alloxan diabetics rabbit kidneys shows a slightly decreased cortical GSH content in alloxanized animals. One can conclude that GSH participates in sugar uptake in kidney slices from both diabetic and normal rabbits.