FUNCTIONAL AND MORPHOLOGIC STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF ORINASE ON THE PANCREAS1,2

The effect of Orinase on the blood sugar concentration of rabbits and partially pancreatectomized dogs treated with adrenal steroids and⁄or growth hormone was correlated with the morphologic alterations in the pancreas. Concomitant with increasing severity and duration of the diabetic state increasing numbers of animals failed to show significant hypoglycemia after a test dose of the sulfonylurea. It was also found, with one exception, that in those diabetic animals, whose beta cells were completely degranulated, no hypoglycemia was observed after Orinase. Furthermore, dogs with metahypophyseal diabetes also failed to respond. When complete beta cell degranulation occurs in diabetes, produced by experimentally increasing the demand for insulin, it can be assumed that the pancreas is putting out insulin at maximal capacity, and has lost its insulinogenic reserve. On the other hand, metahypophyseal diabetes is an insulin deficiency syndrome due to degenerative changes in beta cells. The ineffectiveness of O...