Thirty experimental and fifteen control Wistar rats were studied to determine 
whether hypoglycin A influences insulin levels in the body to contribute to the 
state of hypoglycemia usually observed in Jamaican vomiting sickness, a 
condition arising after ingestion of unripe ackees. This fruit also grows in 
other Caribbean islands, as well as North and Central America. Hypoglycin A is 
one of the toxic compounds found in unripe ackees and is capable of inducing 
hypoglycemia. A fall in blood glucose occurred after administration of 
hypoglycin A. The lowest level of 42.60 +/- 4.84 mg/dl was attained 3 hr after 
administration of the drug. This alteration of blood glucose from the fasting 
level of 80.31 +/- 5.20 mg/dl was significant (P less than 0.01). The blood 
glucose level in the control rats showed no significant change from the fasting 
level. The insulin level in portal and peripheral blood showed no significant 
change. Results showed that, although hypoglycin A induced severe hypoglycemia 
after intravenous application, there was no significant change in insulin 
levels. This observation suggests that hypoglycin A has a mechanism of action 
other than an alteration in insulin levels to induce hypoglycemia.