Insulin, glucagon, and glucose exhibit synchronous, sustained oscillations in fasting monkeys

Abstract

In overnight fasted rhesus monkeys, synchronous, regular oscillations occurred in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon. The oscillations displayed a period averaging 9 minutes. The amplitudes for insulin and glucagon were ten and five times greater than for glucose. Insulin cycled in and glucagon out of phase with glucose. In baboons, oscillations of glucose and insulin were smaller than in rhesus monkeys, while in man, regular oscillations were not observed.