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THE HYPOPHYSIS AND SECRETION OF INSULIN.

B A Houssay¹, V G Foglia, F S Smyth

¹Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine

|October 30, 2009

Summary

The pancreas can correct diabetic hyperglycemia, but prolonged anterior pituitary extract causes diabetes by damaging insulin-producing cells. Early hyperglycemia is extrapancreatic, while later stages involve pancreatic damage.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Physiology
Pathology

Background:

The pancreas plays a crucial role in glucose homeostasis.
Anterior pituitary hormones are known to influence carbohydrate metabolism.
Understanding the interplay between the pituitary and pancreas is key to diabetes research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the pancreas's capacity to correct diabetic hyperglycemia in dogs.
To determine the effects of anterior pituitary extract on pancreatic insulin secretion.
To elucidate the mechanisms underlying pituitary-induced diabetes.

Main Methods:

Vascular union of donor pancreases with pancreatectomized recipient dogs.
Induction of hyperglycemia using anterior pituitary extract and glucose infusion.
Measurement of blood glucose levels and assessment of pancreatic insulin secretion.
Histological examination of pancreatic islet cells.

Main Results:

Pancreas from hypophysectomized dogs showed normal insulin secretion, indicating pituitary independence.
Anterior pituitary extract induced diabetes in most normal dogs, with diminished insulin production and pathological changes in islet cells.
Hyperglycemia from pituitary extract is initially extrapancreatic, but prolonged exposure leads to pancreatic damage and persistent diabetes.
In resistant dogs, pancreatic insulin secretion was often normal or supernormal, with signs of B-cell hyperfunction.

Conclusions:

Anterior pituitary extract can cause diabetes through both extrapancreatic mechanisms and direct pancreatic damage.
The cytology of islet B cells correlates with insulin secretion capacity.
The pancreas's ability to correct hyperglycemia is compromised by sustained pituitary-induced damage.