In order to study the response of pancreatic alpha cells to the change blood glucose, plasma pancreatic glucagon levels were measured after glucose loading given orally (50g) or intravenously (25g) in twenty-two normal controls and eighty untreated diabetics. Basal plasma pancreatic glucagon levels did not differ significantly in the two groups. However, oral or intravenous glucose administration caused a decrease in plasma pancreatic glucagon in normal subjects but not in diabetics. In "moderate" or "severe" diabetics, plasma pancreatic glucagon tended to increase paradoxically following oral glucose loading. To evaluate the sensitivity of pancreatic alpha cells to glucose, we calculated the index, -sigma delta IRG/sigma delta BS, after oral glucose loading. It was 1.96 +/- 0.57 in normal subjects, and significantly higher than in "mild" (0.11 +/- 0.05), "moderate" (-0.002 +/- 0.06) and "severe" (-0.09 +/- 0.07) diabetics. These results demonstrate the insensitivity of alpha cells to hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus as compared with normal subjects.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1977

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function in pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma. Part I: Insulin test, lysine-vasopressin test, and rapid ACTH test.

For the assessment of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function in the presence of pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas, insulin tests, lysine-vasopressin tests, and rapid ACTH tests were performed and plasma cortisol was assayed. Rapid ACTH test and lysine-vasopressin test, which examine adrenal and mainly pituitary function respectively, showed normal function in ten among 14 cases. But insulin test, which examines the whole hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function, showed various levels of abnormality in eight among 14 cases. Frequent association of functional disturbances of this axis in these diseases was stressed.

Adenoma, Chromophobe↗

PubMed1977

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function in pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma. Part II: insulin test and clinical features.

For the assessment of hypothalamic corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) secretory function, insulin test, lysinevasopressin test, and rapid ACTH test were performed and plasma crotisol was assayed. Disturbances of CRH secretory activities were found not to be related with the degree of suprasellar extension of tumors, contents of tumors, the degree of visual disturbances, or the duration of symptoms, and it was supposed that more complex mechanisms were responsible for CRH secretory abnormalities.

Adenoma, Chromophobe↗

PubMed1977