Decrease in the Concentrations of Ketone Bodies and Free Fatty Acids in Rat Blood in Response to a Glucose Load: Its Possible Relation to Endogenous Insulin Activity

Abstract

A fall of blood concentration of ketone bodies and free fatty acids as observed in rats and the involvement of endogenous insulin therein were examined. Hypoketonemia caused by glucose load was concluded to be solely dependent on the endogenous insulin activity, in view of the fact that extirpation of the pancreas as well as induction of alloxandiabetes or neutralization of endogenous insulin by anti-insulin serum completely abolished the hypoketonemia. In contrast, the decrease of blood concentration of free fatty acids in rats was at least partly due to a factor other than endogenous insulin activity, since a significant decline of blood level of free fatty acids was observed even in the totally pancreatectomized rats. The difference of ketonemic action between endogenous and exogenous insulin, as well as its dependence on other endocrine factors, is discussed. (Endocrinology76: 910, 1965)