Insulin and Enzyme Responses in Three Strains of Rats

Abstract

Summary

Three groups of male weanling rats of the BHE, Wistar, and inbred BHE strains were fed a 6% corn oil, 40% protein, 45% carbohydrate diet until they were 100 days old. Half of the animals were killed after a 24-hr fast while the remaining animals were killed without prior fasting. Animals of the BHE and IN-BHE strains had lower levels of IRI and higher blood glucose levels than animals of the Wistar strain. Strain differences in the fasting and nonfasting activities of the hepatic enzymes and in the lipid levels of the blood and liver appeared to be related in part to the insulin status of these animals. However, the data also suggested that different mechanisms of internal control of intermediary metabolism exist for each of these strains.