Perchlorate is hypoglycaemic by amplifying glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mice

The chaotropic anion perchlorate (ClO4-) is a potent amplifier of stimulated insulin secretion in vitro. Acute effects of perchlorate on serum glucose and insulin levels were investigated in normal mice. Intraperitoneal injection of single doses of NaClO4 at 10-300 mg kg-1 body wt showed only a slight, reducing effect on the basal serum glucose level, reaching statistical significance only at 300 mg kg-1 body wt. However, a single dose of NaClO4 (300 mg kg-1 body wt) given together with a glucose load (0.9 g kg-1 body wt) significantly counteracted the increase in serum glucose and reduced the serum glucose/insulin ratio 20 min after administration. The perchlorate effect was transient and at 60 and 90 min after administration the serum insulin and glucose levels were comparable with those of the glucose-treated control animals. The results suggest that perchlorate enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mice in vivo and thereby reduces the serum glucose level after a glucose load but does not much affect the basal serum glucose level.