Further Investigations of Disturbances of Blood Sugar Equilibrium in their Relation to Neoplasia

Abstract

In previous publications (1), it has been shown that the injection of a protein into the animal body is followed by disturbance of the blood sugar equilibrium, and that this disturbance of sugar equilibrium can be influenced (either increased or decreased) by the ablation of one or more of the endocrines (2). The present report concerns a further study of: ( a ) the interrelationship of the endocrines in the regulation of blood sugar equilibrium; ( b ) the relation of the degree and type of blood sugar disturbance after the injection of protein to the strength of the anti-bodies developed; ( c ) the relation of the type and intensity of the reaction following the injection of homologous protein to neoplasia in man. I. EXPERIMENTAL PART The technical steps of the method employed are simple. The animal to be tested is starved for a period of twelve hours. Just before, and again sixty minutes after the subcutaneous injection of the antigen chosen, the blood sugar values are determined in milligrams per 100 cc. The lower of the two values is subtracted from the higher, the difference being taken to indicate the degree of disturbance as measured in milligrams. In the present work, in determining the blood sugar values we have used either the method of Epstein or of Kliner, or the Wallace and Gallagher modification of the Folin-Wu method. We have modified the Wallace and Gallagher method in that the blood is measured instead of weighed, 0.1 cc. being used. For this purpose a standardized pipet, so made that the capillary bore necessary to contain the specified amount is about 15 cm. long, was employed. It is essential that the same worker make all determinations in a given experiment and that the individual be skilled in the technical steps of the method chosen. The same method for determining the sugar values should be used throughout any one experiment. These conditions have been complied with in the work recorded here.