Studies on experimental hypotrophy in the rat. III. Plasma insulin and glucagon.

Insulin and glucagon have been measured in the plasma of rats with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and their littermate controls. A lower plasma insulin and a higher plasma glucagon were observed in IUGR term rat fetuses. After birth there was no difference in the circulating level of insulin and glucagon in IUGR rats and their littermate controls. It is concluded that postnatal hypoglycemia of IUGR rat did not result from an impaired glucagon secretion or an increased insulin secretion.