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Biomedical subjects

J S Soeldner

Publications and source records attributed to J S Soeldner.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Glucagon levels and metabolic effects in fasting man.

The role of glucagon in the metabolic adaptation to prolonged fasting in man has been examined. Plasma immunoreactive glucagon was determined during 6-wk fasts and during infusion of exogenous glucagon using an assay which minimized nonpancreatic immunoreactivity. Plasma glucagon concentrations rose twofold to a peak on the 3rd day of fasting and then declined thereafter to a level maintained at or above postabsorptive. Insulin concentration declined to a plateau by the 3rd day. Thus a persisting altered relationship of glucagon and insulin concentrations characterized the fasted state. A synergism of low insulin and relative or absolute elevation of glucagon levels is viewed as a hormonal mechanism controlling the rate of hepatic substrate extraction for gluconeogenesis. Glucagon was infused systemically into 4-6 wk fasted subjects at three dose levels. A marked sensitivity of individual plasma free amino acids to the induced elevations of plasma glucagon within the physiologic range was demonstrated. At higher concentrations, equivalent to those present in the portal vein, stimulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis occurred, and the effects on glucose, insulin, and growth hormone levels and on ketone metabolism were induced.

Adult↗

Diabetes mellitus and aging: diminished planting efficiency of cultured human fibroblasts.

This work concerns the effect of age and the diabetic gene(s) on the growth capacity of skin fibroblasts in culture. Cells from normal subjects and the progeny of conjugal diabetics have similar lifespans after multiple passages in mass culture. The combined lifespans in vitro are inversely proportional to the age of the donor. When individual cells are plated, more of those from normal subjects are able to form colonies. The difference in plating efficiency is apparent when first tested after 20 generations of growth, persists at 30 and 40 generations, but disappears after 50 generations. This cell culture system should be useful in studying the inheritance of the diabetic gene(s), the pathogenesis of the diabetic state, and the relationship between aging and diabetes, both of which decrease plating efficiency.

Aging↗

Amino acid balance across tissues of the forearm in postabsorptive man. Effects of insulin at two dose levels.

Amino acid balance across skeletal muscle and across subcutaneous adipose tissue plus skin of the forearm has been quantified in postabsorptive man before and after insulin infusion into the brachial artery. Skeletal muscle released significant amounts of alpha amino nitrogen after an overnight fast. Most individual amino acids were released. Alanine output was by far the greatest. The pattern of release probably reflects both the composition of muscle protein undergoing degradation and de novo synthesis of alanine by transamination. A significant correlation was observed between the extent of release of each amino acid and its ambient arterial concentration. Elevation of forearm insulin in eight subjects from postabsorptive (12 muU/ml) to high physiologic levels (157 muU/ml) in addition to stimulating muscle glucose uptake blocked muscle alpha amino nitrogen release by 74%. Consistent declines in output were seen for leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, threonine, glycine, and alpha-aminobutyric acid. Alanine output was insignificantly affected. Doubling forearm insulin levels (from 10 to 20 muU/ml) in eight subjects increased muscle glucose uptake in three and blocked alpha amino nitrogen output in two although both effects were seen concurrently in only one subject. Changes in net amino acid balance after insulin could be accounted for by increased transport of amino acids into muscle cells or retardation of their exit. It is likely that ambient arterial amino acid concentrations are established and maintained primarily by the extent of muscle amino acid release. The individual amino acids whose outputs from forearm muscle decline after forearm insulinization correspond well with those whose levels fall systematically after systemic insulinization. This suggests that declines in amino acid levels after systemic insulinization are due to inhibition of muscle release. Doubling basal insulin approaches the threshold both for blockade of muscle amino acid output and stimulation of glucose uptake, effects which appear to occur independently.

Adipose Tissue↗