Effect of fasting upon insulin secretion in the rat

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Abstract
Groups of rats were killed after periods of fasting up to 4 days. Total extractable pancreatic insulin fell only after 2 days; but after only 24 hr. insulin secretion, measured in vivo after injection of guinea pig anti-insulin serum and in vitro on exposure of pancreatic tissue to glucose, fell by about 40%. The sensitivity to glucose of the insulin-secretory mechanism is decreased before fasting causes any decrease in the insulin content of the pancreas. This phenomenon is discussed in relation to the decrease in tolerance to glucose which is known to develop at an early stage of fasting in rats.