the following experimental procedures are specific examples which describe the preparation of a number of compounds of the invention : ethylhydrazinoacetate hydrochloride ( 7 . 73 g , 50 mmol ) was saponified by refluxing in 100 ml of 1n naoh for 2 h . to the hot solution was then added 2 - methyl - 2 - thiopseudourea sulfate ( 6 . 95 g , 50 mmol ) and the solution was refluxed for an additional 2 h . the mixture was concentrated to ˜ ½ volume at which time a white solid precipitated . the solution was cooled and filtered to yield 3 . 34 g of a white solid . recrystallization from water afforded 2 . 41 g ( 36 %) of [ 2 -( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazino ]- acetic acid as a highly crystalline white solid . mp : 247 - 248 ° c . ( dec ); 1 h nmr : ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 40 ( s , 2h ). to a stirring solution of [( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazono ]-, monohydrochloride , monohydrate acetic acid ( 10 g , 60 mmol ) in methanol ( 300 ml ) was added 10 % pd — c ( 0 . 25 g ) and the mixture hydrogenated at 30 psi overnight . the mixture was filtered and solvent evaporated to dryness . the residue was recrystallized from etoh to afford 4 . 2 g ( 42 %) title compound as a white solid ( m . p . 163 - 165 ° c .). 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 68 ( s , 2h ). hcl ( g ) was bubbled through a suspension of [ 2 -( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazino ]- acetic acid ( 2 . 00 g , 15 . 2 mmol ) in benzyl alcohol ( 30 ml ). the reaction was stirred for about an hour until everything was in solution . the crude product was precipitated out by adding et 2 o . this material was recrystallized from meoh / etoac to yield [ 2 -( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazino ] acetic acid phenylmethyl ester monohydrochloride ( 3 . 20 g , 82 %) as a white crystalline solid . mp : 162 - 164 ° c . ; 1 h nmr ( cd 3 od ): δ 3 . 69 ( s , 2h ), 5 . 24 ( s , 2h ), 7 . 34 - 7 . 42 ( m , 5h ). a solution of lda ( 50 ml of a 1 . 5m solution in thf ) in 250 ml of dry thf was cooled to − 78 ° c . to this was added dropwise a solution of ethylhydrocinnamate 12 . 0 ml , 68 . 2 mmol ) in 250 ml dry thf . the solution was stirred at − 78 ° c . for 30 in . a solution of di - tert - butyl azodicarboxylate ( 18 . 84 g , 81 . 8 mmol ) in 100 ml dry thf was then added dropwise . after 10 min , the reaction was quenched by the addition of 14 ml hoac and allowing to warm to room temperature . the mixture was partitioned between et 2 o and water . the aqueous layer was extracted with et 2 o ( 3 × 100 ml ). the combined organic layers were washed with saturated aq nahco 3 ( 2 × 100 ml ) and brine ( 1 × 100 ml ), dried over sodium sulfate and condensed . the crude product was chromatographed on silica ( 90 / 10 hexane / etoac ) to afford 15 . 33 g ( 55 %) of the bis - boc protected hydrazino ester . the ester was taken up in 200 ml ch 2 cl 2 . to this was added 120 ml of trifluoroacetic acid . the mixture was stirred 2 h at room temperature . after removal of the solvent , the crude product was taken up in 75 ml of 1n naoh and refluxed for 2 h . the solution was cooled , extracted with et 2 o , neutralized , condensed to half volume , cooled and filtered . the resulting brownish solid was stirred in boiling i - proh for 5 min to remove colored impurities . filtration and drying yielded 3 . 35 g ( 27 %) of α - hydrazinobenzenepropanoic acid as a white solid . mp : 198 - 201 ° c . ( dec ). 1 h nmr : ( d 2 o ) δ 7 . 41 - 7 . 29 ( m , 5h ), 3 . 89 ( dd , j = 7 , 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 23 - 3 . 08 ( m , 2h ). a solution of α - hydrazinobenzenepropanoic acid ( 3 . 00 g , 16 . 7 mmol ) and 2 - methyl - 2 - thiopsuedourea sulfate ( 2 . 55 g , 18 . 3 mmol ) in 17 ml 1n naoh was heated to reflux for 2 h . the mixture was neutralized with 3n hcl and concentrated until precipitation began ( ca . 1 / 2 volume ). the crude product was filtered and recrystallized from water to yield 1 . 81 g ( 49 %) of α -[ 2 -( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazino ] benzenepropanoic acid monohydrate as a monohydrate . mp : 127 - 130 ° c . ( dec ). 1 h nmr : ( d 2 o ) δ 7 . 40 - 7 . 27 ( m , 5h ), 3 . 60 ( dd , j = 8 , 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 04 ( dd , j = 14 , 6 hz , 1h ), 2 . 86 ( dd , j = 14 , 8 hz , 1h ). 2 -[ 2 -( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazino ] propanoic acid . a mixture of 10 . 0 g ( 55 . 4 mmol ) 2 -[( aminoiminomethyl ) hydrazono ] propanoic acid hydrochloride ( j . pharmaceut . sci . 1980 , 69 , 1000 - 1004 ), 1 . 5 g of 10 % palladium on carbon , and 300 ml of distilled water was shaken under 50 psi hydrogen pressure for 16 h at 25 ° c . the mixture was filtered . to the filtrate was added 75 g of dowex ir118h hydrogen form strongly acidic cation exchange resin . the mixture was stirred 1 hour and then the mixture was filtered . the resin was washed with three 150 ml portions of distilled water . the combined filtrate and washes were discarded and the resin was washed with five 200 ml portions of 20 % ( vol ./ vol .) pyridine in distilled water . these washes were combined and the solvent was evaporated at reduced pressure ( 25 ° c ., 1 torr ). the resulting white powder was dissolved in 30 ml of refluxing distilled water and the resulting solution was diluted with 90 ml of hot absolute ethanol . the mixture was allowed to cool to 25 ° c ., and after 24 h the precipitate which formed was collected by filtration . the solid was dried ( 20 torr / 50 ° c ./ 24 hours ) to give 3 . 8 g of the title compound as a white solid , mp 239 - 241 ° c . to a stirring suspension of aminoguanidine bicarbonate ( 100 g , 734 mmol ) in water ( 200 ml ) was added bromoacetic acid ( 100 g , 720 mmol ). after initial effervescence the homogeneous solution was refluxed overnight , cooled to ambient temperature , and solvent evaporated to dryness . the residue was suspended in etoh ( 200 ml ) and sonicated . the solid was filtered to afford 13 . 6 g ( 9 %) of title compound as a white solid ( m . p . 163 - 165 ° c .). 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 4 . 25 ( s , 2h ). β - alanine ( 6 . 00 g , 67 . 5 mmol ) was dissolved in 67 . 5 ml of 1n naoh . to this was added n - amino - s - methylisothiourea hydroiodide ( 15 . 69 g , 67 . 5 mmol ). the mixture was heated to reflux for 1 . 5 h . the solvent was removed . the crude product was taken up in ca . 50 ml water and 50 ml of acetone was added . removal of the solvent afforded an orange solid which was chromatographed on silica ( 80 / 20 chcl 3 / meoh then 60 / 40 chcl 3 / meoh ) to yield 5 . 88 g ( 47 %) of 3 -[[ imino [( 1 - methylethylidene ) hydrazino ] methyl ] amino ] propanoic acid as a pale orange solid . mp : ˜ 125 ° c . ( dec ). 1 h nmr : ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 36 ( t , j = 6 hz , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( t , j = 6 hz , 2h ), 1 . 87 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 80 ( s , 3h ). 3 -[[ imino [( 1 - methylethylidene ) hydrazino ] methyl ] amino ] propanoic acid ( 5 . 88 g , 31 . 61 mmol ) was dissolved in 125 ml water and heated to 60 ° c . for 72 h . the solvent was evaporated and the product was stirred in a 4 : 1 mixture of etoh and meoh . the resulting pale orange precipitate was filtered , washed with ethanol and dried to yield 3 . 16 g ( 68 %) of n -( hydrazinoiminomethyl )- β - alanine as a pale orange solid . mp : 177 - 179 ° c . 1 h nmr : ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 39 ( t , j = 6 hz , 2h ), 2 . 42 ( t , j = 6 hz , 2h ). to a suspension of l - alanine ( 10 . 0 g , 0 . 11 mol ) and triethylamine ( 33 . 5 ml , 0 . 24 mol ) in etoh ( 90 ml ) and h 2 o ( 6 ml ) was added carbon disulfide ( 7 . 2 ml , 0 . 12 mol ). after stirring overnight , methyl iodide ( 7 . 5 ml , 0 . 12 mol ) was added to the yellow solution . the mixture was stirred for 1 hand concentrated to a slurry . the residue was dissolved in h 2 o ( 25 ml ), and conc . hcl was added until acidic . the mixture was extracted with et 2 o ( 3 × 100 ml ), and the organic phase was dried ( mgso 4 ) and concentrated to provide 18 . 4 g ( 93 %) of the corresponding dithiocarbamate as a pale yellow solid of good purity . a analytically pure sample was obtained by recrystallization from et 2 o / hexane : m . p . 90 - 92 ; 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 4 . 89 ( q , j = 7 hz , 1 h ), 2 . 59 ( s , 3 h ), 1 . 52 ( d , j = 7 hz , 3 h ). to a solution of the dithiocarbamate ( 5 . 0 g , 28 mmol ) in methylene chloride ( 50 ml ) at 0 ° c . was added methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate ( 3 . 5 ml , 31 mmol ). the mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 20 h . the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to a colorless oil . the resulting oil was dissolved in h 2 o ( 5 ml ), and 1 . 0 m naoh ( 28 mmol ) was added . the mixture was extracted with etoac ( 3 × 100 ml ), and the organic phase was dried ( mgso 4 ). after filtration , the solvent was removed in vacuo to provide a thick viscous oil . the oil was dissolved in absolute etoh ( 25 ml ), and anhydrous hydrazine ( 4 . 4 ml , 0 . 14 mol ) was added . the mixture was stirred for 1 . 5 h , and the solid ( 2 . 5 g ) which formed was collected by filtration . the white powder was further purified by crystallization from h 2 o / ipa to give 2 . 2 g ( 49 %) of the diaminoguanidine as a white powder : m . p . 174 - 176 ( dec . ); 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 69 ( q , j = 7 hz , 1 h ), 1 . 20 ( d , j = 7 hz , 3 h ). by a procedure analogous to that employed for n -( dihydrazinomethylene )- 1 - alanine , β - alanine was converted to n -( dihydrazinomethylene )- β - alanine ( m . p . 192 ° c ., dec .). 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) 3 . 40 ( t , 2h , j = 7 hz ), 2 . 48 ( t , 2h , j = 7 hz ). a solution of methylated thiocarbohydrazide ( 25 . 0 g , 101 mmol ) and glycine ( 6 . 314 g , 83 . 98 mmol ) in water ( 50 ml ) and 12 . 5 n naoh ( 8 . 89 ml , 111 mmol ) was stirred under nitrogen at 75 - 80 ° c . for 3 hrs . the solution was chilled in ice while still under nitrogen before the portionwise addition of abs . ethanol ( 550 ml in 50 ml portions ), stirring between each addn until pptn was complete . the mixture was then stirred for 15 min . at 0 ° c . before filtering . the collected solid was washed thoroughly with abs . ethanol . drying gave a lt . pink powder ( 8 . 04 g ). the crude solid was dissolved in water ( 30 ml ), filtered to remove some fine insoluble material , and then diluted to a volume of 250 ml with abs . ethanol . precipitation began almost immediately and was accelerated by sonication for a few seconds . after standing at room temp for 10 min , the mixture was filtered , giving a pale rose powder ( 5 . 25 g , 42 %, m . p . 200 ° c ., dec .). 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) 3 . 78 ( s ). ethylhydrazinoacetate hydrochloride ( 9 . 28 g , 60 mmol ) was saponified by refluxing in 120 ml of 1n naoh for 2 h . to the hot solution was then added n - amino - s - methylisothiourea hydroiodide ( 13 . 98 g , 60 mmol ) and the solution was refluxed for an additional 2 h . the solvent was removed . the crude product was dissolved in methanol and filtered to remove the nacl . the filtrate was condensed and dried by high vac . the residue was then stirred with 150 ml meoh overnight . the resulting white solid was filtered . this solid was then refluxed in 100 ml meoh for 2 h to remove any impurities . the mixture was then cooled and filtered . the resulting solid was dried in vacuo to yield 2 . 14 g ( 24 % g ) of [ 2 -( hydrazinoiminomethyl ) hydrazino ] acetic acid as an off - white solid . mp : 201 - 203 ° c . ( dec ). 1 h nmr : ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 39 ( s , 2h ). to a suspension of d - alanine ( 1 . 8 g , 20 mmol ) and triethylamine ( 6 . 1 ml , 44 mmol ) in etoh ( 15 ml ) and h 2 o ( 1 ml ) was added carbon disulfide ( 1 . 3 ml , 22 mmol ). after stirring overnight , methyl iodide ( 1 . 4 ml , 22 mmol ) was added to the yellow solution . the mixture was stirred for 1 h and concentrated to a slurry . the residue was dissolved in h 2 o , and conc . hcl was added until acidic . the mixture was extracted with methyl t - butyl ether ( 3 × 50 ml ), and the organic phase was dried ( mgso 4 ) and concentrated to provide a yellow oil , which with sonication and the addition of a small amount of hexane solidified . upon further drying , 2 . 9 g of a yellow solid was obtained . the product was further purified by recrystallization ( et 2 o / hexane ) to give 1 . 67 g ( 47 %) of the compound identified as compound a of table 9 as a cream solid : m . p . 89 - 91 ° c . ; 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 4 . 67 ( m , 1 h ), 2 . 39 ( s , 3 h ), 1 . 32 ( d , j = 7 . 0 hz , 3 h ). to a solution of the dithiocarbamate of compound a of table 9 ( 15 . 1 g , 84 . 3 mmol ) in methylene chloride ( 170 ml ) at 0 ° c . was added methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate ( 10 . 5 ml , 92 . 7 mmol ). the mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 20 h . the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to a colorless oil . the resulting oil was dissolved in h 2 o ( 40 ml ), and 1 . 0 m naoh ( 84 . 3 mmol ) was added . the mixture was extracted with etoac ( 3 × 200 ml ), and the organic phase was dried ( mgso 4 ). after filtration , the solvent was removed in vacuo to provide a thick viscous oil . the oil was dissolved in absolute etoh ( 85 ml ), and anhydrous hydrazine ( 13 . 2 ml , 0 . 42 mol ) was added . the mixture was stirred for 1 . 5 h , and the solid ( 7 . 5 g ) which formed was collected by filtration . the white powder was further purified by crystallization from h 2 o / ipa to give 6 . 48 g ( 48 %) of the title compound as a white powder : m . p . 175 - 177 ° c . ; h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 69 ( q , j = 7 hz , 1 h ), 1 . 20 ( d , j = 7 hz , 3 h ). to a suspension of l - valine ( 5 . 0 g , 42 . 7 mmol ) and triethylamine ( 13 . 1 ml , 93 . 9 mmol ) in etoh ( 30 ml ) and h 2 o ( 2 ml ) was added carbon disulfide ( 2 . 8 ml , 47 . 0 mmol ). after stirring overnight , methyl iodide ( 2 . 9 ml , 47 . 0 mmol ) was added to the yellow solution . the mixture was stirred for 2 h and concentrated to a slurry . the residue was dissolved in h 2 o ( 10 ml ), and conc . hcl was added until acidic . the mixture was extracted with et 2 o ( 3 × 100 ml ), and the organic phase was dried ( mgso 4 ) and concentrated to provide a yellow oil which after seeding gave a yellow solid . the solid was suspended in hexane and filtered to yield 7 . 7 g of compound b of table 9 as an off - white solid . the filtrate was cooled to 0 ° c . to yield a second crop of 0 . 27 g of compound b of table 9 ( 7 . 97 g total , 90 %) as a white solid : m . p . 76 - 78 ° c . ; 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ) δ 5 . 30 ( m , 1 h ), 2 . 40 ( m , 1 h ), 1 . 08 ( d , j = 7 . 0 hz , 3 h ), 1 . 04 ( d , j = 7 . 0 hz , 3 h ). to a solution of compound b of table 9 ( 8 . 0 g , 38 . 6 mmol ) in methylene chloride ( 60 ml ) at 0 ° c . was added methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate ( 4 . 8 ml , 42 . 5 mmol ). the mixure was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 20 h . the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to a colorless oil . the resulting oil was dissolved in h 2 o ( 10 ml ), and 1 . 0 m naoh ( 38 . 6 ml ) was added . the mixture was extracted with etoac ( 3 × 100 ml ), and the organic phase was dried ( mgso 4 ). after filtration , the solvent was removed in vacuo to provide a thick viscous oil . the oil was dissolved in isopropyl alcohol ( 150 ml ), and hydrazine monohyrate ( 9 . 4 ml , 0 . 19 mol ) was added . the mixture was stirred for 2 h , and thf was added which resulted in a more filterable solid . filtration provided 2 . 4 g ( 33 %) of the title compound as a slightly hygroscopic white solid : m . p . 112 - 116 ° c . ; 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 70 ( d , j = 5 . 0 hz , 1 h ), 2 . 20 ( m , 1 h ), 0 . 97 ( d , j = 7 . 0 hz , 3 h ), 0 . 94 ( d , j = 7 . 0 hz , 3 h ). to a stirring suspension of ethyl hydrazinoacetate hydrochloride ( 5 . 0 g , 32 . 34 mmol ) and n - methyl morpholine ( 3 . 26 g , 32 . 34 mmol ) at 0 ° c . was added solid n -( benzyloxycarbonyloxy ) succinimide ( 8 . 06 g , 32 . 34 mmol ). the mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature overnight and the solvent removed in vacuo . the residue was suspended between etoac / h 2 o , the layers shaken , the organics separated and dried over na 2 so 4 . the solvent was removed and the residue chomatographed via sio 2 flash chromatography ( eluant 4 : 1 hexane / etoac ) to afford 5 . 7 g ( 70 %) title compound as a white solid . m . p . 95 - 97 ° c . the residue in subsequent reactions was purified by recrystallization from etoac / hexane to afford title compound in slightly lower yield . 1 h nmr ( cdcl 3 ) δ 1 . 27 ( t , j = 7 hz , 3 h ), 3 . 66 ( s , 2 h ), 4 . 19 ( q , j = 7 hz , 2 h ), 5 . 13 ( s , 2 h ), 6 . 77 ( brs , 1 h ), 7 . 33 ( m , 5 h ). to a stirring suspension of preparation 9 ( 3 . 0 g , 11 . 89 mmol ) in etoh ( 30 ml ) at ambient temperature , was added aqueous naoh ( 1n , 11 . 89 ml ). to the mixture was added additional h 2 o ( 10 ml ) and stirred for 1 hr ( the mixture became a homogeneous solution and then a solid precipitated ). aqueous hcl ( 1 n , 11 . 89 ml ) was then added , the ethanol removed in vacuo and the aqueous extracted with etoac ( 2 × 100 ml ). the organic layers were combined , dried over na 2 so 4 , and the solvent removed to afford 2 . 31 g ( 87 %) title compound as white solid . m . p . 131 - 133 ° c . 1 h nmr ( cd 3 od ) δ 3 . 59 ( s , 2 h ), 5 . 15 ( s , 2 h ), 7 . 37 ( m , 5 h ). to a stirring suspension of preparation 10 ( 25 . 44 g , 112 . 7 mmol ) in etoac ( 500 ml ) was added trimethylsilyl isothiocyanate ( 14 . 79 g , 112 . 7 mmol ) and the mixture was heated at gentle reflux ( 80 ° c .) overnight . the resulting solution was cooled to ambient temperature and washed with h 2 o ( 2 × 100 ml ). the organic layer was separated , dried over na 2 so 4 , and the solvent evaporated to dryness . the oily residue was dissolved in ch 2 cl 2 and allowed to stand at ambient temperature for 3 min in which time a solid forms . the solid was filtered , washed with ch 2 cl 2 ( 100 ml ) and dried in vacuo . the solid was slurried in hot etoac ( 300 ml ) to dissolve any sulphur related by - products and triturated with hexane ( 200 ml ) to afford 17 . 1 g title compound ( 53 %) as a white solid . m . p . 148 - 149 ° c . 1 h nmr ( cd 3 od ) δ 5 . 20 ( s , 2 h ), 7 . 30 ( m , 5 h ) remaining ch2 not observable . to a stirring solution of preparation 11 ( 5 . 0 g , 17 . 64 mmol ) in etoh ( 150 ml ) at ambient temperature was added methyl iodide ( 2 . 73 g , 19 . 41 mmol ) and the resulting solution stirred overnight . the solvent was removed in vacuo to afford 7 . 50 g ( quant ) title compound as a yellow foam . 1 h nmr ( cd 3 od ) δ 2 . 69 ( brs , . 6 h ), 2 . 84 ( brs , 0 . 4h ), 4 . 40 - 4 . 70 ( m , 2h ), 5 . 31 ( brs , 2h ), 7 . 46 ( m , 5h ). to a vigorously stirring solution of preparation 12 ( 25 . 5 g , 60 mmol ) in h 2 o ( 100 ml ) at ambient temperature was added hydrazine hydrate ( 6 . 06 g , 120 mmol ) slowly until ½ had been added . h 2 o ( 10 ml ) was added to the solid mass which had formed and the solids broken up mechanically with a spatula . the remaining hydrazine was then added and the solution vigorously stirred for 1 hour . the heterogeneous mixture was sonicated and stirring continued until a thick mass had formed . etoh ( 50 ml ) was added , the solid filtered , washed with etoh and dried in vacuo to afford 9 . 24 g ( 55 %) title compound as a white solid . m . p . 168 - 170 ° c . 1 h nmr ( d 2 o ) δ 3 . 86 ( brs , 1 h ), 4 . 21 ( brs , 1 h ), 5 . 17 ( s , 2 h ), 7 . 39 ( s , 5 h ). [ 1 -( aminohydrazonomethyl ) hydrazino ] acetic acid . to a solution of preparation 13 ( 9 . 20 g , 32 . 71 mmol ) in meoh / h 2 o ( 400 ml , ˜ 2 : 1 v / v ) was added 10 % pd - c ( 1 . 0 g ) and the mixtre hydrogenated at 30 psi for 4 hours . the catalyst was filtered through diatomaceous earth and 10 % pd - c ( 1 . 0 g ) was again added . the mixture was hydrogenated at 30 psi for 2 . 5 hours and determined to be complete by tlc ( eluant 85 : 14 : 1 ch 2 cl 2 / meoh / hco 2 h ). the mixture was filtered through diatomaceous earth and solvent removed to ˜ 50 ml at which time a solid precipitated . the solid was filtered , washed with a minimum amount of h 2 o and dried in vacuo to afford 3 . 60 g ( 75 %) title compound as an off white solid . m . p . 196 - 198 ° c . a second crop was obtained by concentrating the filtrate until a solid formed . filtration afforded 0 . 90 g ( 19 %, total yield : 94 %) additional material having identical melting point . 1 h imr ( d 2 o ) δ 4 . 06 ( s , 2 h ). compounds of the present invention were tested for their ability to reduce blood glucose and body weight as follows : kkay mice are rodent models of niddm and obesity ( chang , wyse , copeland , peterson , and ledbetter , 1986 ). a pre - treatment blood sample was obtained from the retro - orbital sinus and the mice arranged in groups of 6 so that the mean pre - treatment blood glucose level was the same on average in all groups . test compounds were admixed in the chow at a concentration of 0 . 5 % and the mice were allowed to consume the diet ad libitum . control mice received unsupplemented chow . on day 0 , the mice were weighed and provided control chow or chow supplemented with test compounds . after 3 days of consuming control chow or chow supplemented with test compounds , a blood sample was obtained for determination of the glucose concentration and the animals were weighed for determination of weight loss . food consumption was measured by weighing the food provided at the beginning of the study and the food residue at the end of the study . food consumption was calculated by subtracting the weight of the residue from the weight of the food provided . drug intake was calculated by multiplying food consumption by 0 . 5 %. using this method drug intake was determined to be approximately 500 mg / kg / day . blood glucose data are expressed as the average blood glucose concentration in the test group divided by the average blood glucose level in the control group ( treatment / control or t / c ). compounds resulting in t / c values equal to or less than 0 . 90 are considered to be active anti - hyperglycemic agents . weigh loss data are expressed as percent change in body weight . compounds resulting in a decrease of 1 % or more less than control in body weight over three days are considered to be active anti - obesity agents . kkay mice were treated with n -( dihydrazinomethylene )- glycine as described above except that the compound was admixed in the chow at 0 . 03 , 0 . 06 , 0 . 10 , 0 . 20 , 0 . 30 , and 0 . 40 % so as to deliver daily doses of approximately 30 , 60 , 100 , 200 , 300 , and 400 mg / kg . control mice received unsupplemented chow . for comparison to n -( dihydrazinomethylene )- glycine , 3 - guanidinopropionic acid ( 3 - gpa ) was administered as a 0 . 50 % admixture in the chow ( approximate dose , 500 mg / kg / day ). data are shown as the percent change in blood glucose concentration and body weight on day 3 compared to day − 1 of the study . means ± s . e . m . for n = 6 mice / group . statistical significance was determined by analysis of variance using jmp 3 . 0 . 2 software ( sas institute ). *, p & lt ; 0 . 05 vs . nil ; ¶, significantly less than 3 - gpa ( p & lt ; 0 . 05 ). glucose tolerance was measured in non - diabetic c57bl mice and diabetic kkay mice . the animals were dosed by oral gavage with distilled water ( control ) or 100 mg / kg of n -( dihydrazinomethylene )- glycine then fasted for 16 - 17 hours . blood samples for glucose determination were obtained from the retro - orbital sinus . samples were obtained immediately prior to administration of 2 g / kg glucose i . p . ( time = 0 ) and 30 , 60 , and 90 minutes after the injection . blood glucose was determined using a glucose autoanalyzer . the data are expressed as means ± s . e . m . for 5 - 6 mice per group . statistical significance was determined by analysis of variance using jmp 3 . 0 . 2 software ( sas institute ). *, p & lt ; 0 . 05 vs . control . non - enzymatic glycosylation of protein was measured using established methods ( dolhofer and wieland , 1979 ; khatami , suldan , david , li , and rockey , 1988 ). the incorporation of 100 mm [ 14c ]- d - glucose into human serum albumin was determined by dissolving human serum albumin ( sigma chemical co . ), [ 14c ]- glucose , and glucose in a physiological saline solution and incubating at 37 ° c . for 8 days . test compounds were added to the solution at 19 . 1 mm . glycosylation of albumin was determined by precipitating the protein with 1 volume 12 % trichloroacetic acid , centrifuging , and washing the pellet twice with 6 % trichloroacetic acid with centrifugation following each wash . the washed pellet was solubilized , scintillant added and the incorporation of radiolabelled glucose determined by liquid scintillation counting . the data are expressed as the percent of [ 14c ]- glucose incorporated into albumin ( mean of 2 measurements ). statistical significance was determined by analysis of variance using jmp 3 . 0 . 2 software ( sas institute ).