PLASMA AMYLIN AND INSULIN CONCENTRATIONS IN NORMOGLYCEMIC AND HYPERGLYCEMIC EATS

The recently discovered pancreatic peptide amylin is postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis of feline diabetes mellitus, However, pla sma amylin concentrations in normal and diabetic cats have not yet bee n published, The aim of the present study was to validate a commercial amylin radioimmunoassay kit for the measurement of feline amylin in u nextracted plasma, and to measure plasma amylin concentrations in norm al and diabetic cats, The kit had satisfactory specificity, sensitivit y, accuracy, and precision, and can be recommended for measurement of feline amylin in unextracted EDTA plasma, when nonspecific binding of plasma samples is used in the calculation of measured amylin concentra tion, Fasting amylin concentration in cats with normal glucose toleran ce was 97 +/- 4 pmol/L. Plasma amylin increased in parallel with insul in after glucose administration in cats with normal and impaired gluco se tolerance, In contrast to cats with normal glucose tolerance, cats with impaired glucose tolerance had markedly delayed amylin and insuli n secretion, Diabetic cats had basal hypoinsulinemia combined with hyp eramylinemia. Hyperamylinemia may lead to reduced insulin secretion an d insulin resistance, and contribute to the development of feline diab etes, In conclusion, feline amylin can be measured in unextracted EDTA plasma, Fasting amylin concentrations are approximately 100 pmol/L, a nd amylin and insulin are cosecreted in cats with normal and impaired glucose tolerance. Increased amylin concentrations may contribute to t he development of feline diabetes mellitus.