Effects of small variations in insulin and glucagon levels on plasma aminoacids concentrations

To determine the effect in normal subjects of small variations of insulin and glucagon on plasma aminoacids concentrations we suppressed endocrine pancreas secretion with somatostatin and measured aminoacids levels during a sequential insulin infusion in the absence (control test, low glucagon level) or in the presence (normal glucagon concentration) of a replacement glucagon infusion. Insulin infusion rates were 0.05, 0.09, 0.15 and 0.30 mU.kg-1.min-1 during the control test and 0.09, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.40 mU.kg-1.min-1 during the replacement test. During the control test, glucagon decreased (p less than 0.01) and insulin levels were successively 8.2 +/- 0.4, 10.1 +/- 0.7, 11.9 +/- 0.14 and 18.5 +/- 0.8 mU.l-1. The only effect on insulin was to decrease branched-chain aminoacids (BCAA). BCAA were inversely related to insulinemia (p less than 0.01). A significant decrease was obtained for an insulin level of 11.9 +/- 0.4 mU.l-1, a value intermediate between those decreasing glycerol (10.1 +/- 0.7 mU.l-1) and stimulating total body glucose uptake (18.5 +/- 0.8 mU.l-1). During the test with glucagon replacement glucagon was maintained at its initial value. Insulin levels were successively 8.3 +/- 0.3, 11.9 +/- 0.3, 19.7 +/- 0.6 and 26.7 +/- 0.5 mU.l-1. Insulin decreased always BCAA but also threonine, proline, tyrosine, methionine and total aminoacid levels. BCAA were always inversely related to insulin levels (p less than 0.01) but the slope of the relationship was modified and more insulin was needed to decrease BCAA concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)