INSULIN ACTION IN ALLOXAN DIABETES MODIFIED BY ACTINOMYCIN D.

Insulin corrects the disturbances in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in rats made diabetic with alloxan. However, the concomitant administration of actinomycin D with insulin prevents the repair of enzymatic defects in the syntheses of total fatty acids by adipose tissue, of monounsaturated fatty acids by liver microsomes, and of hepatic glycogen. The hypoglycemic action of insulin in diabetes is not modified by actinomycin injections. These findings indicate that a fundamental mechanism of action of insulin is the induction of enzyme synthesis through stimulating the renewal of cellular RNA.