Effect of trauma on serum insulin levels in rabbits.

Abstract

Serum insulin levels were measured following the infusion of glucose orally, and intraduodenally after exposing the duodenum by surgery. Oral administration of glucose produced a marked rise in insulin levels whereas intraduodenal infusion of glucose in operated animals was not associated with any increase in serum insulin level. Reserpine treatment of animals prior to the operation and the intraduodenal administration of glucose, did not abolish this failure of insulin level to rise following the intraduodenal infusion of glucose. These findings suggest that the failure of serum insulin levels to increase following the intraduodenal infusion of glucose in operated animals was not due solely to enhanced release of catecholamines.