THE EFFECT OF INTRAPERITONEALLY INJECTED INSULIN, GLUCAGON, GROWTH HORMONE AND CORTISOL ON THE IN VIVO GLYCOGEN SYNTHESIS IN THE MOUSE-DIAPHRAGM

Abstract

Intraperitoneal injection of insulin doses from 50 to 10000 [mu]U produced from 2- to 180-fold increases in the in vivo glycogen synthesis of the intact mouse diaphragm. Cortisol (10-8 mg to 10-1 mg), either alone or in the presence of insulin, had no direct immediate effect on the glycogen synthesis. The blood sugar level at the sampling of tissue did not differ from the controls. Glucagon was found to stimulate glycogen synthesis. This effect could be ascribed to insulin contamination. Growth hormone possibly had a weak stimulating effect on glycogen synthesis. For the assay of insulin in biological fluids, the intraperitoneal technique using mice seems to be of practical value.