Bimoclomol (BML), a symptomatic antidiabetic agent, has been developed by Biorex R & D Co. to treat diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy. BRX‐220, an orally active member of the BRX family, has been developed to treat diabetic complications and insulin resistance (IR) as a follow‐up compound. The effect of BRX‐220 on peripheral neuropathy was examined in rats with diabetes (type 1) induced by administration of a β‐cell toxin, streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/kg iv). Nerve functions were evaluated by electrophysiological measurements of muscle motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities (MNCV and SNCV, respectively). MNCV and SNCV decreased in diabetic rats by 25% (p < 0.001). A 1‐month preventive treatment with BRX‐220 (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg po) dose‐dependently improved diabetes‐related deficits in MNCV (51.3%, 71.3%, 86.1%, and 91.3%) and SNCV (48.9%, 68.5%, 86.1%, and 93.2%). Insulin sensitivity was measured using the insulin tolerance test (ITT), both in STZ diabetic and in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats (model of type 2 diabetes). Severe IR was detected in STZ diabetic and ZDF rats. This resistance was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by BRX‐220 treatment.
A new Biorex molecule, BRX‐220, has been shown to be effective in animal models of diabetic neuro‐ and retinopathy. Recent in vitro studies showed that it might also have an insulin‐sensitizing action. Therefore, the effect of BRX‐220 on insulin sensitivity was compared with the action of pioglitazone (PGZ) in high fat (HF) diet‐induced insulin resistance (IR) of rats. Methods—Male Wistar rats were fed for 3 weeks a standard chow (PD) or the HF (70‐cal%) diet. The HF‐fed rats were also given daily BRX‐220 (20 mg/kg BW) or PGZ (6 mg/kg BW) by gavage. In vivo insulin action was assessed by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Glucose, insulin, FFA, triglyceride (TG), and glycerol levels in blood were also measured, as well as tissue TG content. Results—Increased levels of fed TG in circulation after HF diet (PD: 2.0±0.2 vs. HF: 5.0±0.8 mmol/L) were partially corrected by BRX‐220 (HF + BRX: 3.8±0.3) and normalized by PGZ (HF + PGZ: 2.6±0.3). Both molecules prevented the increase in fed serum FFA levels after HF diet (PD: 0.5±0.06; HF: 1.8±0.2 mmol/L), with a more pronounced effect of PGZ (HF + BRX: 1.2±0.1; HF + PGZ: 0.7±0.06). Tissue TG levels increased significantly in response to HF feeding in both liver (HF: 16±3.0; PD: 6.4±1.1 μmol/g) and skeletal muscle (HF: 7.7±1.2; PD: 2.4±0.4). This increase was completely normalized by both agents in the liver (HF + BRX: 8.8±0.8; HF + PGZ: 8.8±1.0), and only partially in the skeletal muscles. HF diet‐induced in vivo IR (PD: 25.4±0.5; HF: 15.7±0.5 mg/kg/min) was significantly reduced by BRX‐220 (HF + BRX: 18.7±0.3) and PGZ (HF + PGZ: 22.8±0.4) treatment. Conclusions—(1) Subchronic administration of BRX‐220 leads to an improvement of in vivo insulin action. (2) This insulin‐sensitizing effect is, however, not as pronounced as that of PGZ. (3) It is accompanied by a decrease of circulating TG and FFA levels in the postprandial state and (4) by lower TG content in liver and skeletal muscle.
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