Effect of Insulin on Blood Sugar Levels of Fishes

Abstract

Carp Cyprinus carpio, red sea bream Chrysophrys major, and yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata were subjected to an insulin sensitivity test and to an insulin-glucose tolerance test, in order to investigate the reason why the fish had a low capability of utilizing carbohydrate. The intra-muscular injection of insulin not only decreased blood sugar levels during fasting but also suppressed the increases of blood sugar levels after the administration of glucose. These results suggest that the low utilization of carbohydrate by fishes may be caused by an absolute insufficiency of insulin. © 1982, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.