Effect of Energy Sources on Plasma Insulin and Nitrogen Metabolism in Sheep Totally Nourished by Infusions

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Abstract
The effects of different proportions of glucose and VFA infused to sheep totally alimented by intravenous and intraruminal infusions on plasma insulin, plasma amino acids and nitrogen metabolism were studied in a 4 × 4 latin square experiment. Higher plasma insulin levels were observed when higher ratios of glucose to VFA were infused, thereby indicating glucose is the stronger of these two physiological regulators for insulin release in sheep receiving isocaloric infusions. Plasma free amino acids were significantly decreased and the plasma insulin was at the highest level when the highest ratio of glucose to VFA was infused. Plasma urea nitrogen and urinary urea nitrogen were not affected by treatments under the experimental conditions. It is concluded that the energy sources, insulin and nitrogen metabolism are physiologically integrated. Copyright © 1975. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1975 by American Society of Animal Science.