Effects of Insulin Deficiency and Gortisol Administration on Mobilization of Protein to Gluconeogenesis. ∗

Summary

The effects of insulin deficiency and cortisol on the mobilization of protein to glucose have been studied. Rats were fed on a diet supplemented with C¹⁴ labeled hydrolyzed algae protein for 10 days. After stopping the intake of labeled amino acids, they were treated with anti-insulin serum or cortisol and the radioactivity of tissue protein, blood glucose and glycogen was studied. Rats treated with anti-insulin serum or cortisol 60 hours after C¹⁴ administration showed an increase in blood glucose and liver glycogen (only in cortisol treated animals) but no increase in incorporation of C¹⁴ into glucose was observed. When anti-insulin serum or cortisol was given 24 hours after C¹⁴ administration, an increase both in radioactivity of blood glucose and liver glycogen (only in cortisol treated animals) was observed. These studies indicate that short-lived protein components contribute to increased gluconeogene-sis whereas proteins with slower turnover rates were not as effectively catabolized. Under these conditions lipid activity was found to be unchanged.