GLYCOGENOLYTIC ACTION OF INSULIN

Since the discovery of insulin by Banting and Best, the problem of the mechanism of insulin action has played an important rôle in practice and research. If we knew how insulin acted when introduced into the mammalian body and what organs participated in the increased sugar metabolism, the knowledge would aid the physician to adapt insulin therapy to the individual diabetic patient and to determine insulin dosage in the particular stage of the disease. THE TWOFOLD ACTION OF INSULIN From work initiated by one of us in connection with others,1a twofold action of insulin has been developed when it was observed that a nerve action played a part in insulin effect. This work was based on studies of differences in insulin effect when different modes of administration were used in animals. On administering like dosages of insulin (0.5 unit per kilogram of body weight) subcutaneously, intravenously and intradermally,