PANCREATIC AND SERUM INSULIN IN THE NEW ZEALAND STRAIN OF OBESE MICE

Abstract

SUMMARY: The insulin content of the pancreas and the insulin-like activity of the blood serum are considerably higher in mice of the New Zealand obese strain than in normal controls. The rate of glucose uptake by adipose tissue and hemi-diaphragms incubated in the absence of added insulin did not differ significantly in tissues from obese and normal mice and the stimulation of glucose uptake caused by addition of insulin was similar in tissues from the two strains. Insulin extracted from the pancreas of New Zealand obese mice stimulated glucose uptake by adipose tissue and muscle from obese mice to the same extent as an equivalent amount of porcine insulin.