Insulin and glucagon response of the diabetic Chinese hamster in the Asahikawa colony.

The relationship between pancreatic hormone content and pattern of hormone release has not been completely elucidated because of heterogeneity in diabetes. Accordingly, this study was performed to establish the relationship, using spontaneously diabetic Chinese hamsters in the Asahikawa colony, a newly discovered experimental model resembling insulin-deficient diabetes in humans. As a result of investigations of insulin and glucagon responses to glucose or arginine in vivo and in vitro using isolated islets obtained by the collagenase procedure, a decreased insulin response and paradoxical glucagon response to glucose, and an excessive glucagon response to arginine were found in the diabetic animals. While the yield of isolated islets tended to decrease, a decreased pancreatic insulin content and increased pancreatic glucagon content were found as the diabetic state advanced. It may be suggested, therefore, that the relationship between pancreatic hormone content and pattern of hormone release in diabetic animals in the Asahikawa colony is based on the disruption of islets, disruption or dysfunction of B-cells and hyperplasia or hypertrophy of A-cells by some cause genetically determined.