Diabetic syndrome in sand rats - III. Observations on adipose tissue and liver in the non-diabetic stage

Normoglycemic sand rats of approximately 100, 140, and 220 grams body weight were found to have increased circulating insulin levels compared with albino rats of matched ages. Adipose tissue in vitro demonstrated decreased insulin sensitivity, which became further diminished with increasing age in both type of rats, but this effect was much more marked in the sand rats. Liver enzyme determinations and metabolic studies on liver slices showed identical results in both rats, except for decreased glucose incorporation into glycogen in the sand rat.