Hepatic enzyme activities and plasma insulin concentrations in diabetic herbivorous voles.

The activities of the hepatic glycolytic enzymes glucokinase (GKase) and hexokinase (HKase) in herbivorous Microtus arvalis were very low and the hepatic fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) activities were almost the same as those in C57BL/6J mice. Glycosuria was observed in over 50% of voles fed on a low fibre, high concentrate diet. Voles with a high incidence of glycosuria for over 6 weeks became insulin deficient. In these diabetic voles, the hepatic GKase, HKase and FDPase activities decreased considerably as a result of diminished insulin secretion and fatty degeneration of the hepatic cells. It was considered that M. arvalis would be a useful animal model in which to study disorders of glucose utilization in herbivora.