PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Gerich

Publications and source records attributed to J Gerich.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Comparison of porcine and semisynthetic human insulins using euglycemic clamp-derived glucose-insulin dose-response curves in insulin-dependent diabetes.

In order to compare the biologic effectiveness of porcine and semisynthetic human insulins, a euglycemic clamp method was used in eight insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. Each subject was tested for each insulin on separate days. In order to derive glucose-insulin dose-response curves for both insulins, sequential but constant infusion rates of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mU/kg/min were performed. Plasma glucose levels attained during the euglycemic clamp were 96 +/- 3 mg/dL. At each insulin infusion rate, the steady-state glucose infusion rate required to maintain euglycemia was measured. At each increment of insulin infused, steady-state glucose infusion rates for porcine insulin were 1.12 +/- 0.22, 1.90 +/- 0.59, 4.28 +/- 0.61, and 9.37 +/- 0.66 mg/kg/min compared with 1.27 +/- 0.42, 2.38 +/- 0.20, 4.25 +/- 0.43, and 8.87 +/- 0.67 mg/kg/min for semisynthetic human insulin. By ANOVA, no significant difference was noted between the two insulins. Because insulin infusion rates may not result in predictable circulating free insulin levels in subjects who have circulating insulin antibodies, free insulin levels were determined. When steady-state glucose infusion rates were compared with free insulin levels achieved at the four insulin infusion rates, dose-response curves for both porcine and semisynthetic human insulins were virtually identical. These data suggest that semisynthetic human insulin has equivalent biologic effects on overall glucose metabolism compared with porcine insulin in insulin-dependent diabetes.

Adult↗

Influence of changes in insulin receptor binding during insulin infusions on the shape of the insulin dose-response curve for glucose disposal in man.

To determine the influence of insulin infusions used in dose-response studies on monocyte insulin binding, monocyte insulin binding and glucose disposal were measured in six normal subjects before and at the end of each of four sequential 2-h insulin infusions (0.4, 1.0, 2.0, and 10 mU kg-1 min-1). Monocyte insulin binding was unaltered at the end of the first three infusions (plasma insulin, 31 +/- 2 (SEM), 77 +/- 3, and 184 +/- 10 microU/ml) but was decreased after the last infusion (plasma insulin, 1730 +/- 125 microU/ml) at 0.2 through 10.2 ng/ml insulin concentrations in the binding assay (P less than 0.01). Using a one-site model, this could be ascribed to a decrease in insulin receptor affinity (1.54 +/- 0.26 vs. 2.27 +/- 0.48 X 10(8) M-1, P less than 0.05), whereas in a two-site model this appeared to be due to a decrease in high affinity binding sites (1,868 +/- 228 vs. 2,387 +/- 207, P less than 0.02). Nevertheless, insulin receptor occupancies estimated to occur during the insulin infusions were virtually identical whether preinsulin infusion binding data (745 +/- 72, 1,383 +/- 117, 2,572 +/- 302, and 10,092 +/- 1,708) or binding data at the end of each infusion (702 +/- 56, 1,367 +/- 150, 2,383 +/- 318, and 9,158 +/- 2,023) were used to calculate occupancy. These results indicate that although monocyte insulin binding decreased during dose-response experiments using sequential infusions of insulin, due to the concentrations of insulin at which this occurs this decrease did not alter the shape of the dose-response curve relating glucose disposal to monocyte insulin receptor occupancy.

Adolescent↗

Effects of a long-acting somatostatin analogue on postprandial hyperglycemia in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To determine whether an agent such as WY-41,747, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, could be useful as an adjunct to insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, postprandial plasma glucose concentrations were determined in subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes rendered euglycemic with the Biostator insulin infusion device under four conditions: (1) subcutaneous minipump infusion of insulin alone (13 +/- 1 units) over 30 minutes beginning 30 minutes before ingestion of a meal using insulin doses determined by the Biostator; (2) the same conditions as 1 but beginning immediately before meal ingestion; (3) the same conditions as 1 but with less insulin (7 +/- 1 units) accompanied by the analogue (0.01-0.05 mg/kg); (4) the same conditions as 2 but with the analogue and less insulin (11 +/- 1 units). Administration of the somatostatin analogue increased the effectiveness of insulin in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia and permitted satisfactory postprandial glycemic control when the insulin infusion was initiated immediately before meal ingestion. Administration of the analogue suppressed postprandial plasma glucagon and triglyceride concentrations and delayed xylose absorption. These results suggest that subcutaneous administration of a long-acting somatostatin analogue such as WY-41,747 along with insulin may be clinically useful in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

Estimation and kinetic analysis of insulin-independent glucose uptake in human subjects.

Using the glucose clamp technique, glucose uptake was determined isotopically in normal human volunteers at plasma glucose concentrations of congruent to 60, 95, and 160 mg/dl during insulin infusions that increased plasma insulin to congruent to 20, 80, and 160 microU/ml. Because glucose uptake was found to be a linear function of plasma insulin at each plasma glucose concentration (r greater than 0.92, P less than 0.01), glucose uptake at 0 plasma insulin was estimated by linear regression analysis. The values thus derived (1.30, 1.62, and 2.59 mg . kg-1 . min-1 for plasma glucose concentrations of 60, 95, and 160 mg/dl, respectively) produced a linear Eadie-Hofstee plot, suggesting that insulin-independent glucose uptake followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Km for glucose uptake at 0 plasma insulin (congruent to 10 mM) was similar to those observed for glucose uptake at the other plasma insulin concentrations studied (congruent to 9-12 mM), but its Vmax was less (5.2 vs. 6.4, 18.5, and 26.8 mg . kg-1 . min-1 for congruent to 20, 80, and 160 U/ml, respectively). These results indicate that in postabsorptive human subjects 75-85% of glucose uptake is noninsulin-mediated and provide additional support for the concept that insulin may increase glucose uptake merely by providing additional transport sites. The method described herein provides an assessment of insulin-independent glucose uptake in vivo that may prove useful in distinguishing between intrinsic defects of the glucose transport system and those due to defects in insulin action.

Adult↗

A microfluorometric method for the determination of free fatty acids in plasma.

A rapid and precise microfluorometric method for the determination of free fatty acid concentrations in 2-5 microliters of plasma is described. The assay is performed directly on plasma, eliminating the need for extraction with organic solvents, and is based on the quantitation of AMP generated from the formation of acyl coenzyme A in the presence of ATP and acyl CoA synthetase. Because of the sensitivity of this assay, reagent quantities, and thus costs, are significantly reduced compared with previously described enzymatic spectrophotometric methods. In addition, the inclusion of fatty acid-free human serum albumin in the standards corrects the previously reported underestimate of plasma free fatty acids with enzymic methods.

Fatty Acids, Nonesterified↗

Effects of the disaccharidase inhibitor acarbose on meal and intravenous glucose tolerance in normal man.

To determine whether the effects of the disaccharidase inhibitor Acarbose on glucose tolerance could be solely explained via an action on intestinal nutrient absorption, the effects of this agent and placebo (100 mg p.o.) on intravenous and postprandial glucose tolerance were compared in six normal subjects. Acarbose significantly diminished plasma glucose, insulin, and gastrointestinal inhibitory polypeptide responses following meal ingestion without affecting plasma glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide responses, but had no effect on plasma glucose and insulin responses following intravenous injection of glucose. These results suggest that the acute effects of Acarbose on glucose tolerance can be explained on the basis of its ability to alter intestinal nutrient absorption.

Acarbose↗

Insulin increases the maximum velocity for glucose uptake without altering the Michaelis constant in man. Evidence that insulin increases glucose uptake merely by providing additional transport sites.

The present studies were undertaken to assess the mechanism by which insulin increases glucose uptake in man. Because glucose uptake in most mammalian tissues occurs predominantly by a facilitated transport system that follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics, glucose uptake was measured isotopically in normal volunteers over the physiologic range of plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and was subjected to Lineweaver-Burk and Eadie-Hofstee analysis. With both methods, increases in plasma insulin from 18 microunits/ml to 80 and 150 microunits/ml were found to increase the maximum velocity (Vmax) for glucose uptake nearly three- and fivefold, respectively, (P less than 0.025 and P less than 0.001) without significantly altering the Michaelis constant (Km). Because an increase in the affinity or molecular activity of transport sites or provision of additional transport sites that differed from those present basally should have altered the Km, whereas a mere increase in the number of transport sites would have only increased the Vmax, our results indicate that in man, insulin may increase glucose uptake merely by providing additional transport sites.

Adult↗

Stimulation of human pancreatic polypeptide secretion by hypoglycemia is independent of adrenergic mechanisms.

Human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) increases after insulin-induced hypoglycemia. To determine whether adrenergic mechanisms contribute to this increase in normal man, six subjects were studied on two occasions: once after insulin alone and once after insulin plus simultaneous alpha (phentolamine)- and beta (propranolol)-adrenergic blockade. Despite comparable hypoglycemia (51 +/- 4 vs. 49 +/- 4 mg/dl), the increase in HPP did not differ in the presence or absence of adrenergic blockade (721 +/- 215 vs. 736 +/- 193 pg/ml, respectively). These findings suggest that HPP secretion during hypoglycemia is not dependent on adrenergic mechanisms.

Adult↗

Selective effects of somatostatin-14, -25 and -28 on in vitro insulin and glucagon secretion.

The widely occurring tetradecapeptide somatostatin (SRIF-14) has been variously implicated as a neurotransmitter, a neurohormone, a cybernin (local regulatory factor) and a hormone. In the first isolation of SRIF-14 from hypothalamic extracts and subsequent extracts of other tissues, peptides of higher molecular weight but with similar activity have been noted. Recently two such peptides have been characterized as the 28-amino acid SRIF-28 (from porcine gastro-intestinal tract and porcine and ovine hypothalamus and the 25-amino acid SRIF-25 (from ovine hypothalamus), each of which consists of an N-terminal extension of SRIF-14. We now report that SRIF-28 and SRIF-25 are more potent than SRIF-14 in the inhibition of insulin release, but that SRIF-14 preferentially inhibits glucagon release. This suggests that SRIF-28 and SRIF-25 are not mere biosynthetic precursors of SRIF-14 and that their differential release may be physiologically important.

Animals↗

Effect of intermittent physiologic hyperglucagonemia on postprandial plasma glucose levels in normal man.

The ability of glucagon to impair glucose tolerance has been questioned by studies involving infusion of exogenous glucagon during a glucose load. Since such hormone administration may not reflect the physiologic pattern of glucagon secretion and may result in hepatic downregulation to glucagon, the present experiments have examined the effects of intermittent endogenous hyperglucagonemia (induced by episodic infusion or arginine) on plasma glucose profiles of normal man following ingestion of mixed meals. In control studies following meal ingestion, plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon increased respectively 15-30 mg/dl, 30-60 uU/ml and 25-50 pg/ml. When meals were accompanied by arginine infusions, plasma glucagon responses were augmented three to fourfold (p less than 0.05). Amplitudes of glycemic excursions during infusion of arginine (345 +/- 40 mg/dl) were significantly augmented compared to those observed in control studies (286 +/- 34 mg/dl, p less than 0.02). These results indicate that intermittent increases in plasma glucagon within the physiologic range can adversely affect postprandial glucose profiles in normal man despite concomitant hyperinsulinemia and suggest that such hyperglucagonemia may contribute to impaired postprandial glucose tolerance in diabetic individuals in whom insulin secretion is deficient.

Adolescent↗

Stimulation of insulin release in the absence of extracellular calcium by isobutylmethylxanthine and its inhibition by somatostatin.

It has been suggested that somatostatin may inhibit insulin release by interfering with pancreatic islet calcium uptake. To further investigate this hypothesis, the effect of somatostatin on insulin release was examined under conditions where islet uptake of calcium would be unlikely to occur. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor, isobutylmethylxanthine (0.75 mM), was found to stimulate biphasic insulin release from rat pancreases perfused in vitro in the absence of added extracellular calcium on a background of 0.3 mM EGTA And 8 mM glucose; these results support previous suggestions that methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitors may stimulate insulin release by increasing islet cytosol free calcium through translocation of bound (stored) intraislet calcium. Somatostatin (1.0 muM) completely inhibited both phases of isobutylmethylxanthine-stimulated insulin release. Since uptake of extracellular calcium by islets was unlikely under the present experimental conditions, these results suggest that somatostatin inhibition of insulin release is probably due to interference with a cAMP-dependent translocation of intraislet calcium, or to interference with some other effects of cAMP or an effect of calcium itself rather than to interference with islet calcium uptake.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Differential effects of epinephrine on glucose production and disposal in man.

Normal subjects were infused 1) with epinephrine (50 ng/(kg.min)) for 180 min followed by epinephrine plus glucagon (3 ng/(kg.min)) for 60 min after which the epinephrine infusion rate was increased (125 ng/(kg.min)) or 2) with epinephrine plus somatostatin (500 microgram/h) for 180 min. Epinephrine increased glucose production and plasma glucagon transiently but caused persistent suppression of glucose clearance and sustained hyperglycemia (despite increased plasma insulin and gluconeogenic substrates); glucose production increased again on addition of glucagon and on increasing the epinephrine infusion rate. During epinephrine plus somatostatin, glucose production still increased transiently, but further suppression of glucose clearance caused more marked hyperglycemia. In conclusion, 1) in man hyperepinephrinemia within the physiological range caused sustained suppression of glucose clearance but only a transient increase in glucose production; 2) this transient hepatic response a) was not due to glycogen or substrate depletion, b) occurred without changes in plasma glucagon or insulin, c) was specific for epinephrine but permitted subsequent responses to changes in plasma epinephrine; 3) epinephrine can serve as a physiological regulator of glucose homeostasis in man both by increasing glucose production and by decreasing glucose clearance.

Adult↗