The effect of fasting and selective re-feeding on insulin release in the rat
Turner, D.S.; Young, D.A.
Acta Endocrinologica 72(1): 46-53
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5598 PMID: 4739229 Document Number: 69123
The insulin secretory response in Wistar rats of bodyweight 325 to 375 g given by vein 12.5% (w/v) solution of glucose at the rate of 0.5 ml/100 g bodyweight was impaired by a preceding 3-day fast. Rats similarly starved but given the glucose by mouth were not significantly affected. Other rats were starved for 2 days and then fed for 6 h on either protein or starch pellets before a further 18-h fast. Insulin response to infused glucose was estimated. The protein refeeding failed to affect the insulin secretory response, but the starch prefeeding greatly enhanced it. It was suggested that intestinal hormones released by the glucose load exerted a "priming" effect on the insulin release mechanism of the beta -cells which enabled them to respond to plasma glucose concentrations.