Effects of Pregnancy and Chorionic Growth Hormone Upon Insulin Secretion

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Abstract
Pancreatic insulin content and insulin secretion rate evoked by glucose in incubated pieces of pancreatic tissue were measured in normal, pregnant, hypophysectomized, and chorionic growth hormone-treated hypophysectomized rats. Pregnancy failed to affect the insulin content of the pancreas and its secretory response to glucose at the 5th and 10th day of pregnancy. Thereafter (15th and 20th day) a marked increase in secretion rate wasnoticed; a small increase in insulin content was also observed. Administration of chorionic growth hormone to hypophysectomized rats induced changes in islet function comparable to those observed in late pregnancy. It is suggested that the increase in the functional activity of the beta-cell during pregnancy could be due, in part at least, to endogenous production of chorionic growth hormone. (Endocrinology84: 41, 1969)

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