Abstract
α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of D-xylose and the duration of its activity were examined in rats without restraint and under unanesthetized conditions using a portal cannulation method. The inhibitory effect of D-xylose on the digestion and absorption of sucrose was estimated from the suppression of the elevation of portal plasma glucose after administration of D-xylose and sucrose. The duration of the inhibitory effect of D-xylose was measured as the duration of suppression of the elevation of the portal glucose level in rats that received continuous intragastric infusion of sucrose. D-Xylose suppressed the elevation of portal glucose after administration of sucrose and suppressed it slightly after administration of maltose. The durations of the inhibitory effect of D-xylose were 25 min and 50 min in rats receiving 0.12g/ kg and 0.24g/kg D-xylose, respectively. This is the first animal model used for measuring the duration of the inhibitory effect of an α-glucosidase inhibitor without restraint and under unanesthetized conditions. This should be useful for basic studies of α-glucosidase inhibitor in rats.
