The Adrenergic Modulation of the Serum Insulin Response to Intravenous Arginine in Man

Abstract

Abstract. The effect of adrenergic stimulation and blockade on metabolic responses to arginine have been studied. Phentolamine enhanced, and adrenalin diminished, the rise in serum immunoreactive insulin that followed intravenous arginine; these effects were not secondary to changes in blood levels of arginine, glucose or free fatty acids following the amino acid infusion. Phentolamine did not affect the clearance of infused insulin from the blood stream. It was concluded that adrenergic receptor sites are involved in the modulation of the secretion of insulin in response to an infusion of arginine.