Abstract
Since the literature indicates that the output of insulin is in part regulated by the vagus and sympathetic nerves, 1 that a sympathectomized cat is hypersensitive to insulin, 2 and that ligature of portions of the pancreas increases the sugar tolerance of dogs 3 (de Takats) it was considered important to determine the effect of removal of the celiac ganglia on the sugar tolerance.
The intravenous sugar tolerance of 3 dogs has been determined by the method of Woodyatt, Sansum and Wilder. 4 These dogs were trained to lie quietly. Blood sugar determinations were made before, during and at intervals up to 4 hours after the injection of sugar. Urine was collected under toluol. After determining the intravenous sugar tolerance, the celiac ganglion was removed and the tolerance was determined at intervals during a period of from 5 to 10 months.
The intravenous blood sugar tolerance of the 3 dogs before operation was 1.9, 1.8, and 1.8 gm. of glucose per kilo per hour, respectively. The sugar tolerance now 5 to 10 months after removal of the celiac ganglia is 2.8, 3.4, and 3.8 gm., respectively. The sugar tolerance was increased immediately after the operation. The first determination was made at one week. In one dog the tolerance had increased from 1.8 gm. to 3.8 gm. in one week; in a second, the maximum tolerance of 2.8 gm. was not reached until one month; in the third, the tolerance was not determined until 5 months after the operation, when the tolerance was 2.8 gm.
It is to be noted that the normal tolerance values for the dog found by us are higher than those of Woodyatt, Sansum and Wilder. This may be due to the fact that we used a 5% solution of glucose, instead of a 10 to 50% solution, and in the period of one hour injected a volume sufficient to give the desired dosage per kilo per hour.
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