Effect of Fasting on Blood Sugars in Hereditary Hypopituitary Dwarf Mice. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Under the experimental conditions employed, findings may be summarized as follows: 1. Average blood sugar values for fed hereditary hypopituitary dwarfs are slightly, but not significantly, lower than those of fed normal mice. 2. The blood sugar level of fasting dwarfs drops precipitously to a minimum of 68 mg % after 96 hours. In contrast, normal mice exhibit a lesser drop, followed by some recovery which later gives way to a minimum average of 103 mg % after 96 hours of fasting. 3. These findings show that the sensitiveness of the dwarf to fasting is somewhat like that reported for hypophysectomized animals. This sensitivity herein reported, as judged by the severe hypoglycemia which develops under the stress of fasting, might best be attributed to the known imbalance in the adrenal-pituitary axis in the dwarf.