Date of Award

7-1972

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Medical

First Advisor

H.M. Klitgaard

Second Advisor

R.W. Rasch

Third Advisor

D.W. Glenister

Abstract

It has been well established that hypoglycin A causes hypoglycemia and depletion of liver glycogen in many species of animals. Pent-4-enoic acid, a short chain fatty acid and structural analogue of hypoglycin A also demonstrates the same effects. Further, it has been shown that short chain fatty acids increase insulin secretion. Studies were thus performed to assess the effect of pent-4-enoic acid on circulating insulin levels and also its effect on cell permeability.

I. Male rats were injected with the sodium salt of pent-4-enoic acid intraperitoneally (SO mg/kg body weight) and intravenously (75 mg/kg body weight). Sixty minutes after an intraperitoneal injection of pent-4-enoic acid circulating insulin levels were significantly lower than control values (P < 0.01) and seemed to reach a steady state which continued for the next sixty minutes. No significant effect on circulating insulin levels could be demonstrated after an intravenous injection of pent-4-enoic acid, although the levels seem to be declining thirty minutes after administration.

II. Eviscerated and functionally hepatectomized rats were injected with 1 uC C14 galactose and the effect of insulin (4 units) and pent-4-enoic acid (75 mg/kg body weight) on the galactose space was noted. Insulin increased the galactose space 35%. Pent-4-enoic acid had no effect. This was interpreted to mean pent-4-enoic acid has no effect on cell permeability.

Conclusions: It can be said with a high degree of confidence that pent-4-enoic acid does not produce hypoglycemia by either increasing circulating insulin levels or increasing cell permeability. The results of this investigation seem to substantiate the findings of others who demonstrated the contra insulin effects of pent-4-enoic acid.

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