STUDIES ON THE INTERACTION OF HYPOGLYCEMIA AND ANOXIA

Abstract

The inhalation of 7% O2 antagonizes the hypoglycemic effect of insulin in unanesthetized rabbits, when the period of anoxia is brief; prolonged anoxia, however, (2 hrs.) leads to an aggravation of hypoglycemia. The former conditions are associated with a greater glycogenolytic action of adrenalin, the latter with the nearly complete loss of this action. Since glycogen of the liver is not depleted in animals subjected to insulin and prolonged anoxia and since the adrenal glands show about normal values for adrenalin at the end of such expts., the assumption seems justified that the failure of prolonged anoxia to bring about a recovery of the blood sugar curve is due to the inability of adrenalin to liberate glucose from the liver.