title: Kinetics of human connecting peptide in normal and diabetic subjects.
abstract: The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of synthetic human connecting peptide (C-peptide) was measured with a single-dose injection technique in six normal and seven diabetic subjects and with a constant infusion technique in one normal subject. The MCR of C-peptide did not differ in normal subjects (4.4 ml/min per kg; range, 3.7-4.9) and in diabetic subjects (4.7 ml/min per kg; range, 3.7-5.8). Employment of both techniques in one subject gave similar MCR. The average half-life of C-peptide in plasma calculated from the last 1-h period of the single-dose injection studies was longer in the insulin-dependent diabetics (42.5 min; range, 39.4-48.5) than in the normal subjects (33.5 min; range, 24.9-45.3). These results indicate that the beta-cell secretory capacity of normal and insulin-dependent diabetic subjects can be compared by measuring the C-peptide concentration in peripheral venous plasma. The difference in the half-life of C-peptide in plasma between diabetics and normals suggests an altered kinetics of the disappearance of the peptide, while the overall metabolism, as expressed by the MCR, is similar.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide; D010455:Peptides