[The effects of guanidino derivatives on glucose uptake in rat adipocytes (author's transl)]

We have studied the effects of guanidino compounds on glucose uptake in rat adipocytes. We tested the following homologous series: a) Ethyl omega-guanidinoalkanoates: R-[CH2]n-CO-OC2H5 b) omega-Guanidino-N,N-dimethylalkanamides: R-[CH2]n-CO-N(CH3)2 c) omega-Guanidinoalkylamides (agmatines): R-[CH2]n+1-NH2 (R = H2N-C(= NH)-NH-;n = 3 to 10) In addition, we tested the effects of 1,6-diaminohexane, 1,6-bis(dimethylamino)hexane and spermidine (H2N-[CH2]3-NH-[CH2]4-NH2). The guanidino compounds showed varying effects on glucose uptake in fat cells. The relation between structure and activity indicates that the guanidino group itself is not significant for the corresponding activity of the compounds. The presence and spatial separation of two amino groups are vital. Glucose uptake tests with L-glucose and with 2-deoxy-D-glucose in relation to ATP levels of the fat cells, suggests that the activity of the compounds on glucose uptake in fat is unspecific. It can be concluded that the guanidino derivatives exert their effects by direct influence on the cell membrane.