Hepatic effect of insulin in unanesthetized normal, diabetic, and adrenalectomized dogs

¹ Department of Surgical Research, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

Measurement of arterial, portal, and hepatic venous plasma glucose concentrations were made in unanesthetized dogs whose hepatic vessels were previously catheterized. Total hepatic blood flow was measured by a modified Bromsulphalein method and hepatic arterial blood flow by a trapezoidal wave electromagnetic blood flowmeter. Serial biopsies of the liver were obtained, also under unanesthetized conditions, for measurement of glycogen and free glucose. Various doses of glucagon-free insulin were given by a single, rapid, intravenous injection or by a constant infusion directly into the liver via portal vein and via femoral vein or vena cava. Insulin was administered in normal, in adrenalectomized, in depancreatized, and in depancreatized-adrenalectomized dogs. Under each of the conditions observed insulin produced no decrease in the hepatic glucose output. Moreover, no increased hepatic glycogen or free glucose concentrations were found in hepatic biopsies after insulin administration.