The baseline body weights and blood glucose levels of the gerbils are shown in Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}. No significant differences among the various groups were evident.

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Baseline characteristics of tested gerbils^1^.

                     **All tested gerbils**   **Gerbils in phase C**                                                                                                                                                         
  ------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ --------------- --------------- ----------------- --------------- --------------- ----------------- --------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
                     **Control**              **PS-HOSO**              **Control**     **PS-HOSO**                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                     **Total**                **Non-fasting**          **Fasting**     **Total**       **Non-fasting**   **Fasting**     **Total**       **Non-fasting**   **Fasting**     **Total**       **Non-fasting**   **Fasting**
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
  **n**              **30**                   **16**                   **14**          **30**          **14**            **16**          **22**          **10**            **12**          **19**          **8**             **11**
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
  B