Potentiation of the insulinotropic and hypoglycemic action of gliquidone by succinic acid esters

The monoethyl, monopropyl and monoisopropyl esters of succinic acid, administered intravenously at the dose of 2 mu mol/g body weight, were found to increase the insulinotropic action of gliquidone (0.2 nmol/g body weight) in anaesthetized rats. The monoisopropyl ester of succinic acid also doubled the hypoglycemic action of gliquidone. These findings indicate that it is possible to design esters of succinic acid that are devoid of the risk of generating methanol by intracellular hydrolysis, and yet susceptible to increase both the insulinotropic and hypoglycemic responses to antidiabetic agents.