The molar ratio of C-peptide to insulin after two consecutive stimulations with glucagon in obesity.
The same dose (1 mg) of intravenous glucagon, administered in two consecutive pulses, demonstrates that insulin and C-peptide secretory responses in obese patients exceed those of normal weight subjects. The analysis of the molar ratio of serum immunoreactive C-peptide (IRCP) to serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) which revealed significant differences between obese and control groups suggests that higher plasma insulin levels in obesity may result not only from a greater response to glucagon loads and from an impaired sensitivity to endogenous insulin by target tissues, but also from a decreased hepatic removal and destruction of the hormone. Perhaps an anomaly in the hepatic handling of insulin exists in obese subjects and thus a greater amount of the hormone reaches the periphery contributing to hyperinsulinemia, as observed in hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic obese (ob/ ob) mice.
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D010455:Peptides; D005934:Glucagon