Glucose metabolism in the newborn rat: the role of insulin.

The effect of the administration of anti-insulin serum to newborn rats, surgically delivered under ether anaesthesia at term, was examined with respect to liver glycogen concentration and plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate and free fatty acids. Newborn rats thus treated showed decreased liver glycogen concentrations and elevated plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate and free fatty acids compared to untreated control animals one hour later. These effects were dose-dependent with respect to the amount of anti-insulin serum administered. The simultaneous administration of glucagon with anti-insulin serum at birth was no more effective in mobilising glycogen stores than anti-insulin serum alone, although plasma glucose concentrations in these animals were higher and plasma lactate concentrations were lower. Either anti-insulin serum or glucagon abolished the postnatal hypoglycaemia observed in untreated neonatal rats. The rate of fall in plasma lactate concentrations after birth was stimulated in glucagon-treated rats but was retarded in rats treated with anti-insulin serum. Hormonal control over the initiation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the newborn rat appears to be different, a fall in plasma insulin being the prime factor involved in triggering glycogen mobilization and a rise in plasma glucagon the prime event that initiates gluconeogenesis.