Sequential changes in serum glucose,triglycerides and cholesterol in aging of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats

Summary 16-week-old Wistar, alloxan diabetic rats exhibited progressive elevations in levels of serum glucose, total triglycerides, cholesterol and creatinine over a period of 8 weeks; hyperglycemia preceeded hyperlipidemia and hypercreatininemia and hypertriglyceridemia preceeded hypercholesteremia. Age-matched control rats failed to develop any signs of hyperglycemia or hypercreatininemia, but did develop both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia at 24 weeks of age. This suggests that the progressive cardiovascular derangements (e.g., atherosclerosis, hypertension) noted in experimental diabetes mellitus and in the normal aging (and maturation) process may be brought about by distinctly different biochemical processes.Supported by NIH grant nos. HL-18002 and HL-18015 and NIDA grant No. DA-02339.