The effect of insulin on the morphological blood picture.

Abstract

We have studied the blood picture in rabbits after insulin treatment, and have found that the injection of this hormone produces a rise in the number of erythrocytes per cubic millimeter, and also in the number of leucocytes. The fact that both red and white cells increase simultaneously is strongly indicative of the existence of anhydremia. This condition Drabkin and Edwards 1 have postulated from the increased hemoglobin content following the subcutaneous administration of insulin to dogs. The increase in the red and in the white cells argues more favorably for the existence of a state of anhydremia than the increase in hemoglobin or in the red cells.

Nitzescu and Mangiucca 2 have recently reported the occurrence under the influence of insulin of a leucopenia followed by leucocytosis. In our experiments, and under the conditions with which we have worked, no leucopenia was ever encountered.

The increase in the white was always greater than in the red count. From this observation we believe that the mild leucocytosis is due partly to the increase in the blood concentration, and partly to the presence of protein and other substances in the insulin preparation. The rise in the number of cell components of the blood was proportional to the fall in blood sugar. The greater the fall in the sugar content of the blood, the greater was the anhydremia.