Blood glucose levels in the lizard podarcis sicula sicula raf. After insulin and glucagon administration during the winter

Abstract

The authors have studied the effects of insulin and glucagon administration on the blood glucose levels of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula Raf. during the winter. The administration of insulin induces hypoglycaemia with the blood glucose levels reaching a minimum after 3 injections of 4 IU of insulin and a subsequent partial recovery during the course of the treatment. Glucagon treatment on the contrary causes a strong hyperglycaemia which is dose-dependent and reaches the maximum values about 2.30 hours after the administration of the hormone. The hyperglycaemic action of glucagon is evident also in specimens previously treated with insulin. The glucagon action is not long lasting and the blood glucose levels become normal within 24 hours of the administration of glucagon. © 1986 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.