Plasma glucagon responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and arginine in normal and alloxan diabetic rats

Abstract

A decreased plasma glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia was found in the normoglucagonaemic alloxan diabetic rat. 0.021-0.240 ng/ml was accepted as the range of normoglucagonaemia. The reduction of the glucagon response was not due to destruction of the α²-cells by alloxan, since a normal response to arginine could be demonstrated. The decreased glucagon response to hypoglycaemia in the insulin deficient normoglucagonaemic alloxan diabetic rat suggests that this α₂-cell dysfunction may be caused by insulin lack.

Key Words:

• alloxan
• arginine
• diabetes
• glucagon
• hypoglycaemia
• insulin
• rats