Decreased glucose production from maltose in perfused kidney of streptozotocin diabetic rats.

AbstractTo elucidate the role of renal maltase in the metabolism of circulating maltose, glucose production from maltose was investigated in perfused kidney of normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. The kidney was perfused with 150 mg/dl maltose for 30 min and perfusate maltose and glucose were measured. Perfusate glucose concentration in the kidney of control rats gradually increased during perfusion. That in the kidney of diabetic rats was significantly lower than that in controls. Perfusate maltose concentration in the kidney of diabetic rats was significantly higher than that in controls. These results suggest that circulating maltose may enter kidney cells and subsequently metabolized to glucose, and that maltose uptake and glucose production were decreased in the kidney of STZ diabetic rats.