Somatotrophic diabetes: insulin release responses to arginine and glucagon in dogs

Growth hormone injected daily in 6 dogs for 6 days caused a 20-fold elevation in fasting serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) without appreciable change in serum glucose in 1 day. In the somatotrophic diabetes that occurred after 2 days, the hyperinsulinaemia was maintained and the serum IRI/glucose (I/G) ratio declined from the early high level but remained elevated. During this treatment, in response to glucose infusion, the rise in serum IRI above the initially high fasting level was 16 times the normal. In response to glucagon, the rise in IRI was twice the normal and the rise in glucose was more prolonged, resulting in a decline in the I/G ratio. In response to arginine infusion, the rise in serum IRI was 8 times the normal and the rise in the I/G ratio was twice normal. Following a meal, the rise in serum IRI was 8 times the normal. Thus, with growth hormone treatment the insulin secretory responses to these stimulating factors were magnified over the already elevated fasting level of secretion. The insulin content of the pancreas was reduced to less than 10% of normal by growth hormone treatment for 6 days, due apparently to elevation of the rate of secretion over the rae of formation of insulin.