Insulin and glucagon release in the diabetic Chinese hamster: differences among inbred sublines.

Release of insulin and glucagon from perfused pancreases in vitro of 40 normal male and female Chinese hamsters (from one inbred subline) and 110 male and female diabetic hamsters (from three inbred sublines) was measured in response to glucose plus arginine, theophylline alone, or potassium alone, in order to determine if differences in hormone secretion exist among different diabetic sublines. Glucose plus arginine and potassium produced subnormal insulin responses in all three diabetic sublines, whereas theophylline induced 'normal' or above normal insulin responses. Excessive glucagon release was consistently seen in only one diabetic subline. The female normal animals showed greater insulin release than the male normal hamsters in response to glucose plus arginine. This sex difference was not seen in the diabetic animals.