Carbon tetrachloride and the sorbitol pathway in the diabetic mouse

1. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity and the hepatic and serum concentrations of sorbitol, glucose and fructose were quantified in diabetic mice. 2. Blood glucose concentrations were increased over 300% by diabetes and were decreased toward normal after insulin-treatment. 3. Hepatic sorbitol concentrations ranged from 7-15 mumol/g and were highest in uncontrolled diabetic mice. 4. Hepatic concentrations of fructose and sorbitol were not affected by insulin administration. 5. Challenge with carbon tetrachloride (25 microliters/kg i.p.) did not alter concentrations of glucose, sorbitol or fructose in blood or liver. 6. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity in blood was increased similarly in normal, diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic mice after CCl4 administration. 7. The data indicate that sorbitol did not accumulate in diabetic mice, and that induction of diabetes did not increase the susceptibility of mice to CCl4 hepatotoxicity as occurs in rats.