Summary
Plasma insulin levels and extractable insulin of the pancreas of normal and pregnant rabbits have been studied. — The mean plasma insulin of non-pregnant controls was 25μU/ml (range 18 to 33); extractable pancreas insulin was 3.56μg/100 mg tissue (3.33 to 3.76). — The insulin level in the blood increases during late pregnancy to 56μU/ml (range 37 to 81) and the extractable pancreatic insulin decreases to 1.17μg/100 mg tissue (0.65 to 1.73). — The fine structure of B and A-cells has been studied in pregnancy: insulin stored in B granules decreases and the A-cells show definite signs of increased activity. — The above findings might be interpreted as suggesting that in late pregnancy an increased synthesis and secretion of glucagon augment the insulin secretory activity of the pancreas.
Résumé
Le contenu en insuline du plasma de lapins normaux et en gestation a été étudié par rapport à la quantité d'insuline qui pouvait être extraite de leurs pancréas. — Le contenu plasmatique moyen en insuline des lapins normaux, utilisés comme témoins, était de 25μU/ml (entre 18 et 33) et l'insuline extraite de leurs pancréas était de 3.56μg/100 mg de tissu (entre 3.33 et 3.76). — Lorsque la gestation était à un stade avancé, le contenu en insuline dans le sang s'élevait à 56μU/ml (entre 37 et 81), alors que l'insuline extraite du pancréas tombait à 1.17μg/100 mg de tissu (entre 0.65 et 1.73). — L'ultrastructure des cellules A et B pendant la gestation a également été étudiée. La teneur des granules B en insuline diminue et les cellules A présentent des signes évidents d'une haute activité. — Les observations précédentes suggéreraient que lors de la gestation avancée, une synthèse et une sécrétion de glucagon accrues augmentent l'activité sécrétrice du pancréas en insuline.
Zusammenfassung
Bei normalen und graviden Kaninchen wurden die Plasma-Insulinspiegel und das aus dem Pancreas extrahierbare Insulin gemessen. — Die mittleren Insulinspiegel der normalen Kontrolltiere lagen bei 25μE/ml (zwischen 18–33), das Pankreasinsulin bei 3.56μg/100 mg Gewebe (3.33–3.76). Die Seruminsulin-spiegel steigen während der späten Schwangerschafts-stadien auf 56μE/ml (37–81) an und das extrahierbare Pancreas-Insulin nimmt auf 1.17μG/100 mg Gewebe (0.65–1.73) ab. — Wir untersuchten die Feinstruktur der Alpha- und Beta-Zellen während der Schwangerschaft: Dabei nahm das in den Beta-Granula gespeicherte Insulin ab und die Alpha-Zellen zeigten eindeutige Zeichen gesteigerter Aktivität. Die oben skizzierten Befunde könnten daraufhin deuten, daß während der späten Schwanger-schaftsstadien eine gesteigerte Glucagon-Synthese und Sekretion die insulinsekretorische Aktivität der Bauchspeicheldrüse erhöht.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Coore, H.G., andP.J. Randle: Regulation of insulin, secretion studied with pieces of rabbit pancreas incubatedin vitro. Biochem. J.93, 66–78 (1964).
Daughaday, W.H., andD.M. Kipnis: The growthpromoting and anti-insulin action of somatotropin. Recent Progr. Hormone Res.22, 49–99 (1966).
Fahimi, H.D., andP. Drockmans: Essais de standardization de la fixation au gluteraldehyde. J. Microscop.,4, 125–736 (1965).
Gomez-Acebo, J., C. Lopez-Quijada andJ.L. R-Can-dela: Fine structure of B-cells from pancreas pieces incubatedin vitro. Diabetologia2, 110–116 (1966).
Grodsky, G.M. andP.H. Forsham: Insulin and the pancreas. Ann. Rev. Physiol.28, 352–371 (1966).
Hales, C.N., andP.J. Randle: Immunoassay of insulin with insulin antibody precipitate. Biochem. J.88, 137–146 (1963).
Hurwitz, D., andD. Jensen: Carbohydrate metabolism in normal pregnancy. New Engl. J. Med.234, 327–339 (1946).
Jackson, W. P. U.: On Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetogenic effects of pregnancy. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, p. 162, 1964.
—: Studies in prediabetes. Brit. med. J.1952 II, 690–698.
Josimovitch, J.B., andJ.A. MacLaren: Presence in the human placenta and term serum of a highly lactogenic substance immunologically related to pituitary growth hormone. Endocrinology71, 209–220 (1962).
Kalkhoff, R., D.S. Schalch, J.L. Walker, P. Beck, D.M. Kipnis andW.H. Daughaday: Diabetogenic factors associated with pregnancy. Trans. Ass. Amer. Phycns77, 270–279 (1964).
Kaplan, S.L., andM.M. Grumbach: Serum chorionic “growth hormone-prolactin” and serum pituitary growth hormone in mother and fetus at term. J. clin. Endocrin.74, 1370–1374 (1965).
Kaplan, S.L., andM.M. Grumbach: Studies of a human and Simian placental hormone with growth hormone-like and prolactin-like activities. J. clin. Endocr.24, 80–100 (1963).
Katsch, G.: Schwangerschaft als Belastungsprobe für Diabetikerinnen. Zbl. Cynalk.,24 A. 1756 (1950).
Lacy, P.E.: Electron microscopy of the beta cell of the pancreas. Amer. J. Med.31, 851–859 (1961).
—: Electron microscopic identification of different cell types in the islets of Langerhans of the guinea pig, rat, rabbit and dog. Anat. Rec.128, 255–261 (1957).
Lazarus, S.S., andB.W. Volk: The effect of protracted glucagon administration on blood glucose and on pancreatic morphology. Endocrinology63, 359–371 (1958).
Leake, N.H., andR.L. Burt: Insulin-like activity in serum during pregnancy. Diabetes11, 419–431 (1962).
Lefebvre, P.: The physiological effect of glucagon on fat mobilisation. Diabetologia2, 130–132 (1966).
Luft, J.H.: Improvements in epoxy-resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.II, 736–742 (1961).
Gomori, G.: Manual of Histologic and special staining technics. A. F. I. P. Second edition.Gomori's one step trichrome stain (Amer. J. clin. Path.20, 661–664 (1950). The Blakiston Division. McGrawhill Book Company Inc., p. 66 (1960).
Munger Bryce, L.: The secretory cycle of the pancreatic a-cell. Lab. Invest.II, 885–892 (1962).
—,I. Caramia andP. Lacy: The ultrastructural bases for the identification of different cell types in the islets of Langerhans of the guinea pig, rat, rabbit and dog. Z. Zellforsch.67, 776–798 (1965).
Paget, G.E.: Aldehyde-Thionin, a stain having similar properties to Aldehyde-Fuchsin. Stain Tech-nol.34, 223–229 (1959).
Reynolds, E.L.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol.17, 1–208 (1963).
Silverstone, F.A., E. Solomons andJ. Rubricitus: The rapid intravenous glucose tolerance test in pregnancy. J. clin. Invest.40, 2180–2192 (1961).
Spellacy, W.N., andF.C. Goetz: Plasma insulin in normal late pregnancy. New Engl. J. Med.268, 988–995 (1963).
Ten Berge, B.S.: Pregnancy: Chemistry and Management. Springfield, Ill., Charles C. Thomas, p. 153, 1964.
Volk, B.W., andS.S. Lazarus: Ultramicroscopic evolution of B-cell destruction in diabetic dogs. Wenner-Grenn Center: International Symposium Series. V. 3. The structure and Metabolism of the Pancreatic Islets. Oxford: Pergamon Press. p. 155, 1964.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lopez-Quijada, C., Gomez-Acebo, J. & R-Candela, J.L. Decrease in the insulin of rabbit pancreas in late pregnancy. Diabetologia 3, 435–442 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01228079
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01228079