Effects of chronic treatment with acarbose on glucose and lipid metabolism in obese diabetic Wistar rats

Summary Aims The effect of chronic treatment with acarbose on fasting plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations, as well as on the glucose and insulin excursions during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), in obese diabetic Wistar (WDF) rats was investigated. Methods Forty‐five mature male WDF rats were randomly distributed to one of the three treatment groups (no acarbose, 20 mg and 40 mg of acarbose/100 g of chow, respectively). After 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 months, animals were tested for glucose tolerance by means of an OGTT, and their respective metabolic profiles were determined. Control determinations were done in obese and age‐matched lean animals before the start of the trial. Results The WDF rats exhibit higher body weight and fasting blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations compared to lean animals. Moreover, they show marked glucose intolerance as indicated by the glucose and insulin excursions during OGTT. Interestingly, in both treated and untreated animals, a reversion of the hyperglycaemic state as well as an improvement of the glucose tolerance is observed. However, whereas in the group receiving no acarbose this is accounted for by dramatic increases in fasting plasma insulin concentrations and insulin secretion during OGTT (as indicated by the ΔInsulin area), in rats treated with acarbose the reversion of the diabetic state takes place without increments in hormone concentration. In addition, rats treated with acarbose for 3.5 and 7.5 months show lower plasma triglyceride and FFA concentrations, and the same was observed for cholesterol at the highest dosage of the drug. Conclusions Chronic treatment with acarbose of WDF rats improves the glycaemic and lipidic control as well as the glucose tolerance, with a lower demand of pancreatic insulin than in untreated rats. This data suggests that the long‐term modulation of glucose and insulin excursions after meals improves the insulin sensitivity in this rat strain.