Clinical usefulness of plasma 1,5-anhydroglucitol, fructosamine and blood HbAlc level in mice with abnormal glucose metabolism and in controls

We compared the usefulness of blood measurements of 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), fructosamine and blood haemoglobin Alc (HbA|C) levels in C57BL/KsJ mice with abnormal glucose metabolism and in controls. Both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice (db/m genotype) and genetically diabetic mice (db/ db genotype) displaying a hyperglycaemia, plasma 1,5AG level fell rapidly and dramatically. In contrast, both fructosamine and HbAlc increased so gradually that they provided an approximation of glycaemic conditions over a few weeks. Food-restricted mice displayed a slight hypoglycaemia, with fructosamine and HbAic level reducing slightly but significantly at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively after commencement of treatment. These three glycaemic parameters were significantly correlated with blood glucose, suggesting that these three glycaemic parameters are specifically related to the abnormal glucose metabolism, and that their routine examination in mice may help delineate the metabolic derangement in the disease or provide analytical information in preclinical studies. © 1999 Springer-Verlag London Limited.