Chicken cerebrospinal fluid as affected by fasting, sulfonylurea administration and pancreatectomy

Abstract

Investigation of proteinaceous components of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and possible hormone-barrier characteristics was made in adult female chickens. 1. 1. Fasting for periods up to 72 hr caused mainly a decrease in immunoglobulin levels (G and M), minor transferrin and ultimately major transferrin. Fasting was without significant impact on plasma or CSF glucose and insulin levels. 2. 2. Tolbutamide effected early increases in plasma insulin levels, and to a lesser degree in CSF insulin levels, which subsequently led to a marked hypoglycemia. The transferrin moieties (both) of the disc gel patterns appeared most altered by Tolbutamide in both plasma and CSF. 3. 3. Removal of 99% of the pancreas results four days later in a prominent rise in both plasma and CSF insulin levels. Also, pancreas removal causes alterations in transferrin (both) and IgM in both plasma and CSF.