In order to study the metabolism of pyruvic acid in diabetes, the author observed on the effects of pyruvic acid administration (injected intravenously 40 mg to 100 mg 6 times hourly) upon the blood glucose, pyruvic acid and lactic acid concentrations in normal and alloxan rabbits, and the results were compared with those of the cases injected pyruvic acid with various hormones (insulin, ACTH, cortisone and DOCA) or sulfonyl compound (p-aminobenzene-sulfamid-isopropyl-thiodiazole, PABS-IBTD).

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... ose are the results of this experiment : (1) Both normal and alloxan rabbits responded with diminution of blood pyruvate rather than elevation of it, following to the injection of pyruvic acid. (2) The accelerating effects of insulin, cortisone and PABS-IBTD on the metabolism of pyruvic acid were observed, comparing the blood pyruvate curves following to the injection of pyruvic acid alone, with those of cases injected pyruvic acid with hormones (insulin, ACTH, cortisone and DOCA) or PABS-IBTD. (3) The blood lactate values were not increased by the injection of pyruvic acid or lactate. However, the blood pyruvic acid values were increased following to the injection of lactate in normal and alloxan rabbits. And in the latter cases it was more significant. (4) Both normal and alloxan rabbits responded with elevation of blood glucose following to the injection of pyruvic acid, and hyperglycemia was seen markedly in alloxan rabbits. (5) The effect of sugar formation due to the injection of pyruvic acid was inhibited by cortisone, ACTH and PABS-IBTD. However, it was accelerated by insulin and DOCA.