EFFECT OF CHRONIC CR3+ ADMINISTRATION AND ITS INTERACTION WITH DIETARY AS3+ ON GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN WISTAR RATS

Forty-nine male rats were divided into seven groups of seven rats for a two month study of the effects of chronic Cr3+ and As3+ consumption on glucose tolerance. Five groups received organic or inorganic Cr3+ and/or As3+ in their drinking water, one group was fed a special Cr-free diet and the control group was fed the same feed as the first five groups and distilled water ad libitum. Glucose tolerance and insulin levels were determined at two months. The parameter total blood glucose concentration TBGC, which was based on basal glucose, glucose curve displacement with respect to the control curve, time of the maximum blood glucose concentration and the area under the curve, was used to assess the data. The Cr3+ groups presented contrasting effects depending on whether they had received organic or inorganic Cr3+ and of the presence of As3+. The effect of organic Cr3+ alone was hyperglycemic, while the effect of the inorganic Cr3+ alone was hypoglycemic. The effects of the As3+ alone and of the Cr-free diet were also hypoglycemic.