MAIN EFFECTS AND INTERACTIONS OF CORTISONE, GROWTH HORMONE AND TRIIODOTHYRONINE IN PRODUCTION OF TEMPORARY DIABETES IN THE RAT1

The diabetogenic effects of cortisone, triiodothyronine, growth hormone, and all possible combinations thereof were studied in the intact tube-fed rat. The design of the experiment was factorial, suitable for the analysis of variance. Growth hormone produced hypergtycemia, glycosuria, nitrogen retention and a gain in weight. The other hormones produced hyperglycemia and gly-cosuria with nitrogen wastage and weight loss. Every combination of hormones produced changes in each parameter equivalent to the additive effect of the individual hormones. No significant synergistic or antagonistic interactions were demonstrated. SEVERAL workers have produced temporary diabetes in the intact rat with various single hormonal agents: growth hormone (1), adrenocortical hormone (2), and thyroid hormone (3). However, the knowledge gained from these studies does not permit prediction of the effects of various combinations of these diabetogenic hormones, and investigation of such effects has not produced conclusive results.