Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor NVP-DPP728 Ameliorates Early Insulin Response and Glucose Tolerance in Aged Rats but Not in Aged Fischer 344 Rats Lacking Its Enzyme Activity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aging on glucose metabolism after oral glucose challenge in aged dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) positive (+) Fischer 344 (F344), DPP-IV deficient (−) F344 and DPP-IV(+) Wistar rats and to determine the effect of a DPP-IV inhibitor NVP-DPP728 (1-{2-[(5-cyanopyridin-2-yl)amino]ethylamino}acetyl-2-cyano-(S)-pyrrolidine monohydrochloride salt) on glucose tolerance in aged rats. Aging caused a decrease in early insulin response after an oral glucose challenge in aged Wistar or DPP-IV(+) F344 rats, but not in aged DPP-IV(−) F344 rats, compared with young control groups. Glucose tolerance after an oral glucose challenge in aged DPP-IV(−) F344 rats was better than in aged DPP-IV(+) F344 and Wistar rats associated with the preservation of the early insulin response. NVP-DPP728 improved the glucose tolerance after an oral glucose challenge by potentiating the early insulin response throughout the inhibition of plasma DPP-IV activity in aged DPP-IV(+) Wistar and F344 rats. In contrast, NVP-DPP728 did not affect the glucose tolerance after an oral glucose challenge in aged DPP-IV(−) F344 rats. These results indicate that treatment with NVP-DPP728 ameliorated glucose tolerance in aged rats by the direct inhibition of plasma DPP-IV activity and presumably the subsequent increase in endogenous incretin action.