We previously reported that treatment of streptozotocln-Induced diabetic rats with zinc plus cyclo (his-pro) (CHP) decreased fed blood glucose levels and water Intake. The present study was conducted to examine the dose-dependent, acute, and chronic treatment effects of CHP on oral glucose tolerance (OGT),fed blood glucose levels, water Intake, and plasma Insulin levels In young and aged Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats, nondiabetic Wlstar rats, and genetically diabetic Goto-Kaklzakl (G-K) rats. Acute gastric gavage of 10 mg zinc pius 1.0 mg CHP/kg body weight significantly Improved OGT In 4-and ta-month-old nondiabetic SoD rats and In z-month-etd diabetic G-K rats. Young SoD and G-K rats returned to pretreatment OGT values 1 week after acute gavage of zinc plus CHP (ZC), but Improved OGT values persisted for at least 1 week after gavage In aged SoD rats. OGT values and fed blood glucose decreased to the greatest extent among other treatments when G-K rats were given free access to drinking water containing 1.0 to 1.5 mg CHP/l plus 10 mg zlnc/l for 2 weeks. Although food and water Intake showed a tendency to decrease, no statistically significant differences were observed In young G-K rats. Plasma Insulin levels and blood glucose levels In both normal and diabetic G-K rats decreased with 2-week treatment with ZC. To test the direct effects of ZC on muscle tissue, we observed the effect of various doses of ZC on normal and G-K rat muscle slices. The optimal level of CHP alone for maximal muscle glucose uptake In muscle slices from normal rats was 10 1J9/ml and 5.0 lJg!ml In G-K rats, and ZC stimulated glucose uptake. However, no statistically significant difference was demonstrated between normal and G-K rat tissues In this stUdy. These results indicate that oral Intake of an optimal dose of ZC stimulates