Glucagon and insulin oscillatory self-administration in rats.
In a previous work, it was shown that insulin was intravenously self-injected by rats. By the study here reported it was demonstrated that, in the same procedure, glucagon was not self-administered. However, when allowed to obtain either insulin or glucagon ad lib in a two lever procedure, rats established a sustained daily self-injection pattern of the two hormones. Mostly self-injection bouts occurred immediately before and after each meal with an insulin to glucagon ratio higher after than prior to the meal. Fifty-six and sixty-four percent of glucagon and insulin respectively were self-injected in coupled oscillatory bursts. In such alternated self-injections the amounts of the hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic agents obtained were positively correlated. These data indicate that rats might be able to learn and to carry out a behavioural regulation of blood glucose level.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012646:Self Administration
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon