Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in the sand rat (Psammomys obesus) with positive or negative energy balance.
Sand rats develop a hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic syndrome when in positive energy balance. Sixteen animals fed a standard laboratory chow ad lib were studied for eight months. At five months, some became hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic, others were normoglycemic with or without hyperinsulinemia. As a rule, the hyperglycemic sand rats in the fed state when fasted overnight also had high glucose levels, elevated plasma insulin and reduced glucose tolerance. At eight months, some had not survived, the condition of others deteriorated, and some remained stable, as judged by blood glucose and plasma insulin levels or glucose tolerance. Thus, the pattern of response was highly variable. Sand rats that were maintained in negative energy balance by food deprivation for six days developed hyperglycemia and remained hyperinsulinemic. A hypothesis reconciling the apparent paradox of a similar syndrome appearing under opposite conditions of nutrition is presented in the form of an equation that can account for different patterns of circulating glucose-insulin relationships associated with varying degrees of insulin resistance.
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005215:Fasting; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin