Affiliation:
1. Clinical Physiology Branch, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore City Hospitals Baltimore, Maryland 21224 Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland Temple University Hospital Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Veterans Administration Hospital and Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center Dallas, Texas
Abstract
The hypothesis that the rate of fall in glucose concentration triggers counterregulatory hormonal responses was tested in five subjects following one hour of sustained hyperglycemie. Despite a rapidly falling blood glucose concentration, no increase in plasma growth hormone, Cortisol, glucagon, or catecholamines occurred as long as the blood glucose concentration remained above fasting levels. Plasma growth hormone, cor tisol, and catecholamines were not released until the mean blood glucose reached 28 mg./100 ml., 39 mg./100 ml., and 39 mg./100 ml., respectively, below the fasting level.
Plasma glucagon was suppressed during the period of hyperglycemia. As the blood glucose concentration fell below basal levels, a progressive increase in glucagon occurred. Plasma glucagon returned to fasting values when the nadir in blood glucose was attained. During the period of rapidly falling blood glucose, only plasma insulin showed any change; its response lagged behind the decline in blood glucose. By the time the fasting glucose level was attained, the plasma insulin was still almost three times the basal level. We concluded that under our experimental conditions the rate of fall in blood glucose and the degree of hypoglycemie achieved is primarily determined by the plasma insulin concentration.
Publisher
American Diabetes Association
Subject
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,Internal Medicine