Mechanism of Hypoglycemia Responsiveness in Relation to Changes in Blood Eosinophile Level. ∗

Summary

1. The intravenous administration of 0.1 unit of crystalline insulin/kilo body weight to the intact anesthetized dog caused an abrupt decline of the blood sugar level which is followed within 20 to 45 minutes by a sharp rise. This is accompanied by a significant rise of the eosinophil level which is thought to be medicated by the same mechanisms as is responsible for the rise of the blood sugar level. 2. The adreno-demedullated animal shows normal hypoglycemia responsiveness in the insulin tolerance test and an accompanying rise of the eosinophil level similar to that of the intact animal. This indicates that the medullary secretion is unnecessary for either of these phenomena. 3. In the adrenalectomized and hypophysectomized animals a rise of the eosinophil level similar to that of the normal was demonstrated after insulin, even though the blood sugar chnages showed no evidence of hypoglycemia responsiveness. This is interpreted to signify that the mechanism for hypoglycemia responsiveness in the hypophysectomized and adrenalectomized animal is intact but is not apparent, due to depletion of liver glycogen in the absence of the anterior-pituitary and adreno-cortical secretions.