Histochemical and Cytogenetical Effects of Insulin on Mouse Liver in vivo and in vitro

ABSTRACT

Histochemically detectable changes in the liver of the mouse after subcutaneous injection of a single sublethal does of insulin and the effect of insulin on mitotic rate and chromosome changes in cultured mouse liver cells have been studied. No insulin-induced necrosis or hydropic degeneration of periportal cells was observed. The most marked changes found were a diminution of glycogen and an accumulation of sudanophilic lipid, first in the periportal cells, then throughout the loblue, followed by a rapid restoration to normal. There were no changes in the mitochondria with the sublethal dose. Mitotic rates were increased with 0.5mg% for 10 to 20 hours treatment but no chromosome changes were observed. These observations indicate that insulin causes disturbance of metabolic processes in the liver, which might be interpreted as signs of incipient injury, but insulin does not give any damage at the chromosomal level.