Improvement of Impaired Postoperative Insulin Action by Bradykinin

Abstract

The effect of bradykinin on insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism was studied in 5 operated patients using the euglycemic insulin clamp technique and the forearm catheter technique. Insulin infusion [1.0 mU/(kg b.w. .times. min)] raised plasma insulin levels up to 73 .mu.U/ml. Euglycemia was maintained by a computerized glucose infusion rate, amounting to 2.9 mg/(kg b.w. .times. min). Addition of bradykinin [1.5 .mu.g/(kg b.w. .times. h)] resulted in a significant increase of the glucose infusion rate [+ 1.0 mg/(kg b.w. .times. min)] indicating elevated whole body glucose uptake. This was related to an enhanced forearm glucose uptake [+1.16 .mu.mol/(100 g .times. min)]. Forearm blood flow remained stable.