INCREASED DEXTROSE APPETITE OF NORMAL RATS TREATED WITH INSULIN

Abstract

Adult rats given daily progressively increasing doses of insulin manifested a markedly increased appetite for a 40% soln. of dextrose. The avg. daily dextrose intake increased from 14.6 cc. for the last 10 days before treatment to 31.5 cc. for the last 10 days of insulin inj., while the intake of stock food increased only from 10.1 to 12.1 g. Discontinuation of treatment caused a sharp but temporary decrease in dextrose appetite; food intake showed a less sharp decrease. Several wks. later the dextrose appetite was greater than during the pretreatment period, and food intake was lower, indicating that a mild degree of hyper-insulinism still existed. Clinical experience has shown that after removal of a pancreatic tumor low blood sugar levels may persist.