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Combining blood glucose testing with analysis of a classic paper in an endocrine physiology lab activity
Author(s) -
Walton Kristen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.541.18
Subject(s) - insulin , blood sugar , hormone , physiology , glucose homeostasis , medicine , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , insulin resistance
Endocrine physiology lab activities can be challenging to do with limited resources, due to the complex nature of hormone regulation and the expense of measuring serum hormone levels. Simulated labs are available from various publishers, but hands‐on labs often require animal models, surgeries, and/or expensive reagents. In contrast, blood glucose testing requires relatively inexpensive equipment and can be performed in a 3‐hour lab period by students with little prior training in lab procedures. Consumption of different beverages (for example, water, orange juice, low‐sugar or high‐sugar nutritional shakes) followed by blood glucose testing at one or more time points allows students to see the effects of different amounts and types of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. To extend this activity and illustrate the effects of various carbohydrates on insulin production, students read an article ( Am. J. Physiol 1963;205:638‐644). This classic paper describes perfusion of isolated rat pancreas with various carbohydrates and measurement of insulin by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Students were asked to diagram the methods and interpret the data from the article. They also had to consider the evidence from the paper on effects of different sugars on insulin secretion when analyzing the class data on blood glucose levels over time after consuming various sugar combinations. Students were enthusiastic about the activity as a whole. The use of the classic paper helped to complete the conceptual framework of blood glucose homeostasis illustrated in part by blood glucose testing. In addition, students responded much more positively to this lab experience than to simulated labs on endocrine physiology offered in a previous semester.