METABOLISM IN ORGANIC HYPERINSULINISM

Abstract

The effects of the administration of epinephrine on the metabolism of carbohydrate in normal human subjects and in normal animals have been studied extensively.¹ With regard to the specific effect of epinephrine on total combustion of carbohydrate in the normal organism there is great disagreement. Colwell and Bright,^1f using normal intact animals, showed that the slow, continuous infusion of a solution of epinephrine hydrochloride resulted in complete suppression of carbohydrate combustion, as indicated by the respiratory gaseous exchange, despite the fact that a continuous, excessive supply of dextrose was being simultaneously infused. They found further that when the nonprotein respiratory quotient reached the level interpreted as indicating exclusive combustion of fat, the recovery of urinary dextrose equaled the intravenous supply and that the cessation of infusion of a solution of epinephrine hydrochloride resulted in diminishing glycosuria, a rising respiratory quotient, diminishing urinary excretion of nitrogen and deposition of