The Effect of a-Glucosidase Inhibitor (Acarbose) Feeding on Rat Intestinal Disaccharidases

The effect of Acarbose feeding and of its withdrawal on rat intestinal disaccharidases were studied. 1) Significant differences were shown in body weight between Acarbose fed group (II) and control by Acarbose feeding. In the case of urine volume, significant difference was shown between II and group (I), and between Acarbose withdrawal group (III) and I, viz., body weight was significantly decreased III. This suggested that the effect of Acarbose on urine volume was reverted to the normal level by Acarbose withdrawal. Food intake, water intake, and feces weight were significantly increased in II compared to I. Water contents of feces in II were three times more than I. However, it was shown that water intake and feces weight in III were reverted to the same level as those of I. 2) Colon and caecum weights were significantly increased by Acarbose feeding. However, the effect of Acarbose was reverted to the normal level by Acarbose withdrawal. 3) Maltase activity was significantly decreased by Acarbose feeding, and reverted to the normal level by Acarbose withdrawal. 4) Inhibitory effect of Acarbose on maltase activity was a competitive type in vitro (K1=8.56 X 10-7M). In the case of in vivo, although there was no difference of Km values between I and II, only Vmax value was decreased by Acarbose feeding.