Hypoglycemic Activity and Immunological Half-life of Porcine Insulin and Proinsulin in Baboons and Swine

Abstract

Separate intravenous injections of porcine single component insulin and proinsulin were administered into baboons and swine in equivalent doses based on their biological activities in mouse convulsion assays. In both species and at all doses tested, proinsulin had a more prolonged hypoglycemic effect than insulin. The immunological half-life of plasma proinsulin was 18 and 20 min and the half-life of plasma insulin was 8 and 6 min in the baboons and swine, respectively. (Endocrinology88: 714, 1971)