Abstract
The comparative effects of acute intravenous injection of guanidine and its derivatives
arginine, guanidinoacetic acid, guanidinopropionic acid, guanidinobutyric acid and
guanidinobutyramide on plasma insulin and blood glucose have been examined in the
conscious rat. Guanidine chloride, 0.5 and 1 mmol/kg, caused an immediate increase
(up to 145 µU/ml) in plasma insulin one minute after injection, which persisted for
20 mins with the higher dose; 0.1 mmol/kg was without effect. In contrast, guanidinopropionic
acid and arginine hydrochloride caused a significant increase in plasma insulin at
0.1 mmol/kg. Guanidinobutyramide had a small effect at 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/kg while guanidinobutyric
acid was effective only at 0.5 mmol/ kg. Atropine caused a 45% inhibition of guanidine
stimulated insulin secretion but did not influence the potent effect of the guanidine
diuretic, amiloride. Blood glucose was not affected, compared with saline injected
control animals, by any of the guanidines at the doses tested.
Key words
Guanidine Chloride - Guanidinoacetic Acid - Guanidino-propionic Acid - Guanidinobutyric
Acid - Guanidinobutyramide - Amiloride Hydrochloride - Atropine - Plasma Insulin -
Blood Glucose - Conscious Rat - Diuretic - Atropine