Changes in insulin content of, and insulin and RNA synthesis in, isolated rat islets of Langerhans after hypophysectomy and short-term growth hormone replacement.

Three to four weeks after hypophysectomy, the insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin or total RNA synthesis in the pancreatic islets were estimated. The ratio of the glucose-stimulated insulin release to the islet insulin content was lowered. After short-term GH replacement, insulin release and insulin content were slightly increased such that the ratio of release to content remained virtually unaltered. Glucose-stimulated insulin synthesis was also depressed but improved slightly after GH replacement. However, there was no significant change in the incorporation of [5-3H]uridine into islet total RNA after hypophysectomy or subsequent GH replacement.