An Anti-Insulin Serum, But Not a Glucagon Antagonist, Alters Glycemia in Fed Chickens

Attempts at altering plasma glucose and, as a consequence, food intake were performed in fed broiler chickens by single iv injection of des-His¹(Glu⁹) glucagon amide (a glucagon antagonist) or a non-stimulating anti-insulin serum. Plasma glucose level was not altered by des-His¹(Glu⁹) glucagon amide but was rapidly and largely increased (for at least 2 h) by the injection of the insulin-immune serum. Hour and cumulative food intake were unaltered up to 10 h post injection. These results strongly suggest that in fed chickens, plasma glucose is mainly, if not exclusively, controlled by plasma insulin, and that the transient and heavy hyperglycemia evoked by inhibiting insulin action does not alter food intake.

Key words

Glucagon - Insulin - Immunoneutralisation - Glycemia - Food Intake - Chicken