Method for raising the blood glucose level in mammals

Abstract

The invention comprises the use of activity-reducing effectors of dipeptidyl peptidase (DP IV) and DP IV-analogous enzyme activity in the blood of a mammal to raise the blood sugar level in mammalian organisms.

1 . A method of raising the blood sugar level in a mammal having hypoglycaemia by reducing degradation of glucagon, said method comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an effector for reducing enzymatic activity of dipeptidyl peptidase (DP IV) and DP IV-analogous enzymes.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blood sugar level in the serum of mammalian organisms is raised above the glucose concentration characteristic of hypoglycemia.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effector is selected from the group consisting of DP IV enzyme inhibitors, substrates of DP IV, pseudo-substrates of DP IV, inhibitors of DP IV expression, proteins that bind DP IV or antibodies to DP IV and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effector for reducing enzymatic activity is employed together with glucagon or analogues thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effector for reducing enzymatic activity is employed in combination with physiologically acceptable adjuvants and/or excipients.  
     
     
         6 . A method for stimulating endogenous glucose production via glucagon stabilization in a mammal comprising the step of administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor in a pharmaceutically acceptable preparation for reducing in said mammal the enzymatic activity of endogenous DP IV and thereby reducing degradation of glucagon.