Glucose intolerance was found in four adult chimpanzees. The response of
glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon to intravenous glucose and tolbutamide stimulations
revealed impaired glucose clearance, deficient pancreatic secretion of insulin and
C-peptide, and elevated glucagon levels. Pancreatic islets in a diabetic chimpanzee were
hypercellular, possibly due to α-cells. Minimal or no insulin was observed in β-cells.
Results are consistent with the occurrence of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus,
which may be more prevalent in chimpanzees than heretofore suspected.
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