Glucose turnover five hours following endotoxin administration to normal and diabetic rats.

Glucose turnovers were measured in fasted anesthetized diabetic and normal rats prior to and 5 hours following Escherichia coli endotoxin (ET) administration. Plasma glucose, lactate, blood pH, and hematocrit were also measured. Blood pressure, heart rate, and urine flow were monitored throughout. ET treatment led to an equivalent fall in blood pressure in both diabetic and normal rats, accompanied by a rising heart rate. ET treatment resulted in a significant elevation of plasma glucose in diabetic, but not in normal rats. Plasma lactates rose in both ET-treated groups endotoxin increased glucose turnover both in diabetic and normal rats. ET did not alter glycosuria of diabetic rats, and urine flow was not affected. A significant increased urine flow was measured in normal ET rats. The results reported here indicate that hepatic glucose output was increased by ET treatment in both normal and diabetic rats, and that this elevation was maintained for at least 5 hours. Metabolic clearance rate of glucose was not altered in the diabetic rats following ET, although it was markedly elevated in the normal animals. This, the insulin-like effect of ET as indicated by changes in metabolic clearance rate was absent in the diabetic rats.