Inhibitory effect of a new α-glucosidase inhibitor on fatty liver in Zucker fatty rats

The livers of Zucker fatty (fa/fa) and lean (Fa/−) rats treated with standard rat chow diet containing 0, 10 or 50 ppm α-glucosidase inhibitor (AO-128) for 10 weeks were studied morphologically and biochemically. Light microscopic examination of livers from untreated Zucker fatty rats showed severe steatosis. The triglyceride content in the livers from Zucker fatty rats was significantly higher than that from lean rats (73 ± 9 μg/mg protein for Zucker fatty rats vs. 30 ± 10 for lean rats, p < 0.01). Administration of the inhibitor caused a marked decrease in the number and size of lipid droplets in the hepatocytes from Zucker fatty rats and a decrease in the triglyceride content in the liver (73 ± 9 μg/mg protein for untreated, 54 ±16 for 10-ppm-treated and 48 ± 23 for 50-ppm-treated rats, p < 0.05). This is the first report showing an inhibitory effect of an α-glucosidase inhibitor on steatosis in Zucker fatty rats.