The effects of parabiosis on serum and kidney glycosidase activities in spontaneously diabetic mice.

Spontaneously diabetic non-obese mice of the ICR strain were newly inbred in Shionogi laboratory, Japan. Animals became diabetic suddenly, more frequently and severely in females. Blood glucose levels were 452±73 mg/100 ml with serum insulin levels of < 1.0 μU/ml in the fed state. Parabiosis with normal control ICR mice for 2 weeks decreased the blood glucose level to 260±51 mg/ 100ml (P<0.01) and resulted in serum insulin levels of 46.0±18.0 μU/ml (P<0.01). Kidney homogenate β-N-acetylglucosaminidase and β-galactosidase activities were reduced in diabetic mice (42% and 44% decrease respectively) (P<0.025 and P<0.001), and restored almost to normal after 2 weeks of parabiosis. Renal α-mannosidase activity was decreased 43% (P<0.001) in the diabetic mice but unaffected by parabiosis. Serum β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, β-galactosidase and α-glucosidase activities were significantly increased in diabetic mice (179%; 233% and 58% increase respectively) (P<0.005, P<0.001 and P<0.001), and returned to normal with parabiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]