Insulin Clearance by Perfused Rat Lung

Summary

The clearance of insulin has been demonstrated in the perfused in situ rat lung. Porcine insulin added to the perfusion medium at 50 mU/l was cleared at 6.3 U/h in lungs from fed animals, 6.1 U/h in fasted animals and 15.7 U/h in diabetic rat lungs. At a higher concentration of insulin (500 mU/l) increased clearance was observed in lungs from both fed, fasted and diabetic animals, 33.0, 36.0 and 56.5 U/h respectively. It is suggested that the clearance of insulin by the lung is dependent on metabolic state of the animal.

Key-Words:

Rat Lung - Insulin Clearance - Nutritional State - Diabetes Mellitus