Studies on the Administration of Glucagon and Insulin Antibodies to Rats

Abstract

Glucagon antisera were raised in rabbits immunised with glucagon linked to a synthetic amino-acid copolymer. Antibodies concentrated from these sera by ammonium sulphate precipitation or specifically purified using an immunoadsorbent of glucagon covalently linked to cellulose, were injected into anaesthetised rats which had been starved for 5 hours. The antibodies disappeared slowly from the serum. Neither the concentrated nor the purified antibodies, however, produced a consistent effect on the levels of blood glucose. In contrast both anti-insulin serum and insulin antibodies purified by a similar technique as that used for the purification of glucagon antibodies, caused a transitory hyperglycemia approximately proportional to the amount of antibody injected. Insulin antibodies were rapidly neutralised in the serum. Possible explanations for the failure of glucagon antibodies to induce hypoglycemia are discussed.

Key words

Glucagon Antibodies - Insulin Antibodies - Rat

1 During part of the work P.B. held a Scholarship for Training in Research Methods from the Medical Research Council, and subsequently a Rank Fellowship. Present address: Medical Unit, Middlesex Hospital, London, W 1 (England)