Secretion and elimination of insulin by the in vitro perfused pancreas and liver of rats with thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis.

Pancreatic secretion and hepatic removal of insulin have been measured in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced compensated rat liver cirrhosis in perfusion experiments. Peripheral plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin were slightly decreased in TAA-treated rats. Pancreatic secretion and hepatic removal of insulin remained unchanged by the TAA-treatment. Thus, even in morphologically and biochemically proven experimental liver cirrhosis, insulin secretion and removal may not be disturbed.