Glycosylated hemoglobin in human and animal red cells. Role of glucose permeability.

We have compared red cells from man and selected animals in order to determine the effect of glucose permeability on nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin. Glucose permeability was highest in the primates (human, baboon, rhesus monkey), lower in dogs and rabbits, and nearly zero in pigs. Glycosylation of hemoglobin was measured by three independent methods: cation-exchange chromatography on Bio-Rex 70 (Bio-Rad, Inc., Richmond, California), agar gel electrophoresis, and affinity chromatography. The colorimetric thiobarbituric acid test did not provide valid data on animal hemolysates. However, this test was useful for identifying glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) components isolated on Bio-Rex chromatography. In all animals tested, levels of HbA1c (from Bio-Rex chromatography) and total glycosylated hemoglobin (from affinity chromatography) correlated well with glucose exposure, the product of intracellular glucose concentration, and red cell life span. These results indicate that nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin in mammals is determined by three major variables: mean plasma glucose concentration, red cell life span, and red cell glucose permeability.