Effect of Uric Acid in Glutathione-Deficient Rabbits.

Abstract

Attempts were made to confirm the report of Griffiths that transient diabetes follows the intraperit. injn. of uric acid into rabbits in which the blood glutathione has been lowered by feeding a diet deficient in cystine and methionine. 21 rabbits were fed the deficient diet. 12 animals surviving the dietary restriction were injd. with uric acid although only 6 had a blood glutathione below 23 mg./100 cc. One of these had a definite transient hyperglycemia reaching 366 mg./lOO cc. for 5 to 6 days after the uric acid injn. No blood sugar changes were seen in the other animals after 24 hrs. One rabbit with a blood glutathione of 27 mg./lOO cc. showed a moderate transient hyperglycemia. When the blood glutathione was lowered by bleeding instead of diet, only one of 4 rabbits injd. with uric acid showed a transient hyperglycemia after 24 hrs. It is concluded that if uric'' acid is diabetogenic under these conditions its action is weak.