AIM In view of the contradictory reports i n literatures, to further investigate effects of urethane on the plasma insulin
le vels in the fasting, glucose-loaded and the
epinephrine-induced hyperglycemic rats. METHODS Plasma insulin was measured with the radio-immunoa ssay method. RESULTS Urethane at anesthetic dose (1.5 g·kg -1 ) significantly increased the plasma insulin levels at 20 min. The plasma insulin levels increased from (11±4) to (25±10) mU·L -1 (P<0.05) in fasting rats and from (11±4) to (47±6) mU·L -1 (P<0.01) in glucose-loaded rats at 50 min after administra tion of uret hane. In hyperglycemic rats induced by epinephrine, urethane significantly incr eased the plasma insulin from (10±3) to (51±18) mU·L -1 at 140 min afte r administration of epinephrine and urethane together. In contrast with the cha nges in plasma insulin levels, urethane significantly increased the blood glucos e levels in fasting or glucose-loaded rats at 50 min after administration of ur ethane, and it did not change the
hyperglycemia induced by epinephrine. CO NCLUSION Urethane increases the plasma insulin levels in the fasting, g lucose-loaded and the epinephrine-induced hyperglycemic rats. Insulin secretion promoted by urethane may viaboth hyperglycemia-dependent and hyperglycemia-independent mechanisms.