Plasma volume substitution does not inhibit plasma noradrenaline and muscle nerve sympathetic responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in healthy humans

Abstract

Microelectrode recordings of muscle nerve sympathetic activity and measurements of venous plasma noradrenaline have indicated increased sympathetic outflow during acute hypoglycaemia. Plasma volume reduction during hypoglycaemia, as evidenced by increasing peripheral venous haematocrit might underly the sympathetic activation. To study the effect of prevention of plasma volume reduction during hypoglycaemia, saline containing albumin was infused intravenously in healthy adult volunteers during hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia was induced by an intravenous injection of soluble insulin in a dose of 0.15 IU/kg body weight. Peripheral venous plasma noradrenaline concentrations were identical in experiments without and with plasma volume substitution. Muscle nerve sympathetic activity increased to the same extent during hypoglycaemia with and without plasma volume substitution. It is concluded that increased plasma noradrenaline concentrations and enhanced muscle nerve sympathetic activity during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in man are not consequences of plasma volume reduction.

Key Words:

• hypoglycaemia
• insulin
• muscle nerve sympathetic activity
• norepinephrine
• plasma volume
• sympathetic nervous system