Abstract
Summary
Concentrations of plasma GH, as estimated by radioimmunoassay, did not change significantly in sheep during the 72 hr after feeding; however, the concentrations of blood glucose and plasma insulin decreased and levels of plasma FFA increased markedly. Furthermore, insulin-induced hypoglycemia was not a stimulus for GH secretion. Rapidly falling blood glucose levels from normal or hyperglycemic levels stimulated an increase in plasma GH concentration of short duration. Growth hormone disappeared from plasma with a half-life of 8.6 to 14.7 min. Growth hormone was distributed in a volume equal to 5.0% of body weight. The average GH secretion in 40-kg sheep was estimated to be 0.7 μg/kg/hr.
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