The aim of this study was to establish an isotachophoretic (ITP) method for the determination of the main compounds of glycolysis in human erythrocytes in order to analyze the influence of different glucose concentrations (mimicking the situation in diabetes mellitus) on this pathway. Samples for TTP were prepared by isolation of erythrocytes. lysis of the eels by heating in double-distilled water and subsequent ultrafiltration (M-r cut-off: 5000). Ah the main compounds of glycolysis were characterized by ITP. The influence of different glucose concentrations on the main compounds of the energy metabolism (ATP, ADP, lactate, pyruvate) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate were analyzed in short- and long-time incubations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.