title: Blood glucose, plasma insulin and glucagon response to arginine in infants during the first month of life.
abstract: Blood glucose, plasma insulin and plasma glucagon were determined during an arginine test at 0, 30 and 60 min in 1 to 7 and 30 day infants. The results were compared with those obtained in the 2-10-year-old children. Basal levels of blood glucose increased from the 1st to the 30th day; by the 30th day they were comparable with those observed in the 2-10-year-old children. Basal levels of plasma insulin were higher in 1 day infants, lower in 7 day infants and similar to those of the 2-10-year-old children in the 30 day infants. Basal values of plasma glucagon were higher in 1 day infants than in the 2-10-year-old children; the lowest levels were found in 7 day infants. After arginine, blood glucose increased in the 2-10-year-old children, the variations were negligible in the 1 to 7 and 30 day infants. Plasma insulin increased in 2-10-year-old children, there was a slight increase in 1 and 30 day infants and a negligible one in the 7 day infants. Plasma glucagon increased in the 2-10-year old children, and was similar in 1 day infants; the increase was reduced in 30 day infants and virtually absent in 7 day infants. These results suggest that there is a transitory alpha cell insensitivity to arginine during the first week of life.
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005215:Fasting; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon; D001120:Arginine