Effect of insulin hypoglycaemia on adrenocortical function and blood plasma vitamin E and cholesterol levels in suckling and weaned piglets.

Suckling piglets aged 28-31 days and weaned piglets aged 46-60 days were injected with insulin at a rate of 1 U/kg body weight to induce hypoglycaemia. All the animals were blood-sampled before and 45 and 90 minutes after the insulin injection. Both groups developed a marked adrenocortical response without any significant differences, though the rise in plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) levels of weaned piglets was slightly delayed. Plasma vitamin E concentration showed a significant rise in suckling piglets and a slight rise in weaned animals; it was not accompanied by an increase in total cholesterol levels. The results suggest that glucocorticoids affect vitamin E metabolism. The values of plasma 17-OHCS, cholesterol and vitamin E levels as well as of blood glucose levels and circulating eosinophil leucocyte counts confirmed differences in these parameters between suckling and weaned piglets.