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Insulin secretion and glucose metabolism were studied during intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests performed in one day and seven day old full-term and premature infants. Mean glucose disposal during the intravenous tests was more rapid in seven day old than in one day old infants. Insulin responses after intravenous glucose were characterized by higher insulin levels during the initial phase and lower levels during the second phase in both seven day old premature and full-term groups as compared with the patterns seen in one day old infants. No differences in the mean values for blood glucose and plasma insulin were found among the four groups of infants at any time during the oral tests.

The effect of arginine infusion on the peripheral blood sugar, plasma insulin and plasma glucagon was studied in 28 appropriate-for-gestational-age premature newborn infants, 1-day-old, and in 12 normal children 4–10 years old. In the premature plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations increased after arginine though less noticeably than in the older children, and their insulin/glucagon molar ratio was low at fasting and did not change after arginine. It is assumed that the endocrine pancreatic activity is already developed at birth and adequate to the metabolic state in neonatal life.