INSULIN HYPOGLYCAEMIA AND CHOLINERGIC BLOCKADE: RESPONSE OF PLASMA IMMUNOREACTIVE β‐ENDORPHIN

D. COPOLOV, J. JETHWA, A. STERN, J. CLEMENTS, J. W. FUNDER

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Abstract

Six normal subjects were studied to investigate the mechanisms involved in the release of immunoreactive β‐endorphin (ir‐βEP) in response to insulin hypoglycaemia. Insulin alone (0·2 U/kg body weight) was followed after a 30 min lag period by a ≃ 2·5 fold elevation of plasma ir‐βEP, with a return to basal levels by 90 min. Concurrent infusion of 10% dextrose at 250 ml/h for 2 h prevented the increase in plasma ir‐βEP levels, suggesting an effect of hypoglycaemia rather than a direct effect of insulin. Premedication with atropine 0·6 mg at ‐30 min was followed by hypoglycaemia equivalent to that seen with insulin alone, but no increase in plasma ir‐βEP, suggesting the involvement of cholinergic mechanisms in the neural mediation of ir‐βEP release in response to hypoglycaemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)575-580
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Endocrinology
Volume19
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1983

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