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Selective Defect in Insulin Release in One Form of Spontaneous Laboratory Diabetes

Nature New Biology volume 235, pages 86–88 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

THE New Zealand obese (NZO) mouse is characterized by genetically determined obesity, accompanied by insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinaemia1–4. The pattern of insulin release in response to stimuli has not been described. In the experiments reported here, a marked functional abnormality of the islets of Langerhans in vivo was observed, with no response of plasma insulin to glucose, glucagon and tolbutamide but a greatly exaggerated response to arginine. This observation of a selective defect of islet function not only has important implications concerning the normal physiology of insulin release but may also aid in understanding the evolution of the abnormalities of islet cell function in human diabetes5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, 3050

    R. G. LARKINS & F. I. R. MARTIN

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  1. R. G. LARKINS
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  2. F. I. R. MARTIN
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LARKINS, R., MARTIN, F. Selective Defect in Insulin Release in One Form of Spontaneous Laboratory Diabetes. Nature New Biology 235, 86–88 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio235086a0

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