The effects of insulin and glucagon on ketone-body turnover

A double-isotope procedure was used to measure the effects of insulin and glucagon on ketone-body production and utilization (i.e. turnover) in the starved rat. Somatostatin was infused during the experiment to suppress the pancreatic release of either hormone. The immediate action of insulin in terms of ketone-body turnover that was most evident was a decreased production of 3-hydroxybutyrate, with no significant change in the turnover of acetoacetate. Similarly, the significant effect of glucagon infusion was to increase the production of 3-hydroxybutyrate, with minimum increase in acetoacetate turnover. The data support a direct effect of both hormones on the distribution of acetyl units derived from fatty acid beta-oxidation.