Prevention of Growth Hormone-Induced Diabetes in Hypophysectomized Dogs by Adrenocortical Steroids. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. Continued administration of cortisone or hydrocortisone regimens, in dosages (0.83 to 1.2 mg kg day) sufficient to restore the carbohydrate metabolism of adrenalectomized dogs to normal, completely abolished the insulin hypersensitivity, secondary hypoglycemia of the glucose tolerance test, and adrenaline resistance of hypophysectomized dogs without the production of insulin resistance, diabetes, or abnormally high adrenaline responses. 2. Continued daily administration of a potent “diabetogenic” growth hormone (1.0 to 1.5 mg kg day) in conjunction with the cortisone or hydrocortisone regimens did not alter the carbohydrate metabolism of the hypophysectomized dogs previously observed on the steroid regimens alone, i.e., it remained normal as judged by the above criteria. 3. The insulin resistance, diabetes, and toxic manifestations produced by growth hormone regimens alone were not observed during combined adrenocortical steroid-growth hormone regimens and thus, a more prolonged period of growth hormone administration was made possible. 4. It is suggested that a balance exists between growth hormone and the adrenocortical steroids in the regulation of the carbohydrate metabolism of the normal organism. This balance, in part, may express itself as an antagonism between the two either in the liberation of another factor or in the transformation of growth hormone.