Insulin metabolism in depancreatized dogs during hemorrhagic shock

This study was done to determine why the plasma insulin remained elevated during shock. Mongrel Female dogs (12-15 kg) were depancreatized and maintained on a constant intraportal infusion of porcine insulin while they were bled to reduce and maintain the mean arterial blood pressure at 50 mm Hg for 165 min. Blood samples were taken for glucose and plasma insulin at 15 min intervals. The data show that there was a progressive rise of plasma insulin during the course of hemorrhagic shock. This occurred despite a constant infusion of insulin, the sole source of insulin available to these depancreatized dogs. Since removal of plasma insulin is largely due to insulin utilization, our findings imply that the rise of plasma insulin in hemorrhagic shock is caused by decreased utilization.