Effect of insulin hypoglycaemia on adrenocortical function and blood plasma vitamin E and cholesterol levels in suckling and weaned piglets
Dvorák, M.; Raszyk, J.
Physiologia Bohemoslovaca 25(1): 7-11
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-9463 PMID: 131337 Document Number: 105921
Sucking piglets aged 28 to 31 days and weaned piglets aged 46 to 60 days were given insulin 1.0 unit/kg bodyweight to induce hypoglycaemia. Samples of blood were taken before and at 45 and 90 min after the insulin injection, and plasma glucose, vitamin E and free 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) were estimated. Both groups demonstrated an adrenocortical response with no significant difference between them although the rise in 17-OHCS in the weaned piglets was slightly delayed. Plasma vitamin E concentration showed a significant increase in sucking piglets and only a slight rise in weaned piglets, which was not accompanied by an increase in total cholesterol. The results indicate an effect of glucocorticoids on the metabolism of vitamin E. Differences in the response of sucking and weaned piglets are explained in terms of a higher concentration of vitamin E in the plasma of sucking piglets from the 2nd day after birth. Age-dependent differences in plasma 17-OHCS and total cholesterol, as well as blood glucose and circulating eosinophil leucocyte counts, are in agreement with previous observations.