Effect of Fasting, Glucose, Amino Acids and Food Intake on In Vivo Insulin Release in the Chicken

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Abstract
Insulin release was studied in vivo in the chicken using the radioimmunoassay previously described (Simon, Freychet and Rosselin 1974). An orally administered glucose load (2g/kg b.w.) stimulated insulin release and was rapidly metabolized. A prolonged fasting period (65 hr) increased both initial plasma glucose and initial plasma insulin levels and highly impaired the glucose tolerance. A fasting-impaired insulin release and/or a fasting tissue "insulin resistance" accounted for this fasting-impaired glucose tolerance. An orally administered amino acid mixture (1g/kg b.w.) stimulated insulin release to a very low extent. The effect was however sufficient to decrease the plasma glucose level. In combination with glucose, the oral amino acid load potentiated the effect of a dose of glucose on insulin release and highly improved the glucose tolerance. This synergism was still observed with the intake of a mixed and balanced diet. Therefore, except for some characteristics observed in the chicken which are discussed, the insulin regulation and the pancreatic β-cell function are qualitatively similar in the chicken and in mammals.