Rapid determination of haemoglobin A1c and glucose in mice:: Strain differences, glucose tolerance tests and the neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic model

Blood glucose and Haemoglobin A(1c), (HbA(1c)) levels were evaluated from sequestrated blood samples from mice, using a combination of the Antsense II and DCA-2000 analysers, and using only 6 mu l whole blood. The difference between fed and fasted blood glucose and HbA(1c) concentrations among four strains of mice (inbred C57BL/6N, C3H/HeN, hybrid B6C3F1 and outbred CD-1) was examined, and glucose tolerance was further evaluated in each strain by an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) using this apparatus. There was considerable variation between fed and fasted glucose and HbA(1c) concentrations, with C3H/HeN mice being the most glucose tolerant and CD-1 mice the least glucose tolerant. These findings did not contradict previous observations. A time-course study was also carried out of the levels of blood glucose and HbA(1c) of mice with experimentally induced diabetes produced by streptozotocin (STZ). STZ-induced diabetic mice (C57BL/6N, B6C3F1 and CD-1) displayed a transient hyperglycaemia with onset at 2-6 h post-dose, with a return to values in the hypoglcyaemic range 8-12 h later. A further rise in blood glucose was noted at 24 h (C57BL/6N and CD-1 mice), and four days after treatment (B6C3F1 mice). These findings were in agreement with previous observations in rats. HbA(1c) levels were significantly elevated at three, five or nine days after treatment in CD-1, C57BL/6N and B6C3F1, respectively, and parallel the glycaemic changes. In contrast, there were no changes in blood glucose or HbA(1c) of C3H/HeN mice. It is considered that the combination of the DCA-2000 and Antsense II analysers give rapidly valid and satisfactory HbA(1c)/blood glucose results in mice with only a small amount of blood.