To aid to elucidate the mechanism of abnormal uric acid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats, we studied the effects of the doses of STZ and the length of follow-up period after STZ injection on the relationship between serum glucose and uric acid concentrations in 36 rats. The results are summarized as follows :
(1) The serum glucose level as well as uric acid concentration was significantly increased in both groups of rats injected 40 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of STZ.
(2) The increase in serum glucose level was significantly greater in the 50 mg/kg group, while there was no difference in the increase of serum uric acid concentration between the two groups.
(3) On the 14th day after STZ injection, the slope of regression line between the serum glucose level and uric acid concentration was smaller in rats injected 50 mg/kg than in those injected 40 mg/kg. It was also smaller on the 42th day than that on the 14th day in rats injected 40 mg/kg of STZ.
It was suggested that both production and excretion of uric acid were increased in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
