Lymphocytic Response of Normal Individuals to the Insulin Glucose Tolerance Test

Abstract

Summary

Intravenous administration of 0.075 unit of crystalline insulin per k body weight to normal individuals evoked the expected changes in the blood sugar level and was accompanied by a significant lymphocytosis. Intravenous injection of the same amount of insulin followed 30 minutes later by oral administration of 0.8 g of glucose per k body weight produced an initial decline of the blood sugar level followed by a rise above the fasting level of from 26 to 79 mg %. This was accompanied by a rise of the absolute lymphocyte count to a maximum at 30 or 45 minutes and a secondary decline to a minimum at 150 minutes. The magnitude of the difference in the lymphocyte responses to the Insulin Tolerance Test and to the Insulin Glucose Tolerance Test approaches that of the decline of the absolute lymphocyte count observed when glucose is administered alone. The change of the absolute lymphocyte count therefore does not support the thesis that glucose after insulin magnifies the homeostatic response to hypoglycemia but suggests rather that there is a summation of effects.