Acute diabetes with ketosis was induced in rats by intraperitoneal streptozotocin and also a milder form of diabetes without ketosis by injecting less of the drug. The acutely diabetic rats were killed 72h after injection and the others after either 2 or 13 weeks. Free and lipid myo-inositol was then measured in various tissues and body fluids by g.l.c. of the trimethylsilyl ether. Serum inositol was increased in the acutely diabetic group, whereas liver inositol was decreased. Brain and kidney inositol concentrations were increased in the mildly diabetic animals at 13 weeks and there was a progressive decrease in sciatic-nerve inositol. Lipid inositol of sciatic nerve was decreased in the acutely diabetic group only. Brain lipid inositol concentration was decreased in mild diabetes at 13 weeks. Possible implications of these findings in relation to diabetic neuropathy was discussed.
