QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dollet, J.-M. Articles by Debry, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dollet, J.-M. Articles by Debry, G.

Progressive Adaptation of the Endocrine Pancreas during Long-Term Protein Deficiency in Rats: Effects on Blood Glucose Homeostasis and on Pancreatic Insulin, Glucagon and Somatostatin Concentrations

Unité de Recherches en Nutrition et Diététique INSERM U.59, 38 rue Lionnois, 54000 Nancy, France ^* Département de Nutrition et des Maladies Métaboliques de l'Université de Nancy I, 54000 Nancy, France

Blood glucose, plasma insulin and glucagon, as well as pancreatic insulin, glucagon and somatostatin contents, were measured in control (C group, 18% casein), deprived (D group, 5% casein) and pair-fed (PF) rats at seven intervals during 23 wk after weaning (wk 0). In C rats, plasma and pancreatic insulin showed parallel variations, in D rats, plasma insulin increased normally until wk 3 after weaning, dropped from wk 3 to 8 and was higher in wk 16 and 23 than in wk 8, while pancreatic insulin increased linearly after a significant drop between wk 0 and 1. Insulin variations in D rats were related to protein deficiency until wk 5, but only to energy deficiency thereafter. Circulating and pancreatic glucagon dropped identically for the three groups until wk 5: its role in adaptation to malnutrition is quite irrelevant, although a dysregulation of its secretion was noted. Protein-energy malnutrition induced an increase of pancreatic somatostatin content that was due to the energy deficiency. On the basis of the insulin-to-glucagon ratio, three phases of adaptation to protein-energy malnutrition appeared. From wk 0 to 3, the metabolic priority was growth, whereas glucose homeostasis was secondary, accounting for the early hypoglycemia. From wk 3 to 8 survival was the main priority. After wk 8, the various biochemical parameters stabilized, and growth was parallel to that of normal animals. Protein-energy malnutrition was responsible for a dissociated adaptation of pancreatic hormones.

KEY WORDS: • protein-energy malnutrition • insulin • glucagon • somatostatin • pancreas • adipose tissue • rat • adaptation

¹ Reprint requests and correspondence to: Dr. Jean-Marc Dollet, Service d'Hépato-gastro-entérologie, CHU de Brabois, 54511 Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France.

Manuscript received 29 March 1984. Revision accepted 13 June 1985.