EFFECT OF ALPHA-CELL DESTRUCTION ON THE HGF CONTENT OF THE CANINE PANCREAS*†

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Abstract
Extracts were prepd. from the pancreas of dogs which had been treated with cobalt and with cobalt plus alloxan. Co damages severely the pancreatic alpha cells while alloxan destroys the pancreatic beta cells. These extracts were injd. intraven. into fasting rabbits and dogs and their effect upon the blood sugar level was compared with that of pancreatic extracts from normal or alloxanized animals. These latter extracts caused a transitory hyperglycemia which in the case of the normal pancreas was followed by the typical insulin hypoglycemia. Extracts from Co-treated pancreatic glands caused the same transitory hyperglycemia as the non-Co treated controls. Histological evidence is presented that the alpha cells were severely damaged by Co. These results suggest that the alpha cells are not the site of production of the hyperglycemic factor of the pancreas. The extract of splenic tissue did not cause any significant changes of the blood sugar.