THE HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF METABOLIC DERIVATIVES OF L-TRYPTOPHAN BY MOUTH12

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Abstract
THE administration of L-tryptophan by stomach tube results in a significant decrease in the blood sugar concentration of normal rats but not of severely diabetic alloxanized rats. Concomitant with the hypoglycemic response to L-tryptophan by mouth is a decrease in the insulinase activity of the intact normal rat and mouse (1, 2). Accordingly, the hypoglycemic response may be attributed in part at least to an increase in the availability of endogenous insulin consequent to a decrease in the rate of insulin destruction. In view of the hypoglycemic action of L-tryptophan, it became pertinent to study the action of various metabolic products of the amino acid on the blood sugar of normal and diabetic rats.