Abstract
The effects of insulin on plasma concentrations of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), amino acids and urea were investigated in saline- and cortisol-treated echidnas ( Tachyglossus aculeatus). Intravenous injection of 0.02 or 0.2 IU of regular insulin/kg in saline-injected echidnas was followed by dose-related decreases in plasma glucose, amino acid and urea concentrations. However, following a rapid decrease to 52 ± 10% of the control value, plasma FFA then increased slowly to a maximum of 254±35%, 8 hr after the injection of 0.2 IU of insulin/kg. An increase in plasma corticosteroid concentration was not observed. Pretreatment with five daily im injections of 0.2 mg of cortisol acetate/kg did not affect the early hypoglycemic and lipogenic actions of insulin but decreased its effect on plasma amino acid and urea concentrations. The later increase in plasma FFA concentration was abolished. It is concluded that insulin has potent actions on carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism in the echidna and that antagonistic effects of the glucocorticoids on these actions are minimal.
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