THE EFFECT ON ADRENALINE ON THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN DIABETES MELLITUS AND IN HYPERTHYROIDISM

Abstract

Subcutaneous injections of epinephrine in man caused an increased O2 consumption, which began immediately after an injection with a peak about 40 - 50 minutes later, independent of the dose given, followed by a gradual asymptotic fall for 1-2 hours. Maximum O2 consumption was 10% above normal when 0.1 mg of epinephrine was given, 25% when 1 mg was given. In diabetics rise in O2 consumption was higher and of longer duration than in normal subjects. Subcutaneous injection of insulin in diabetics caused a decrease in the O2 consumption. In non-diabetics, insulin had no such effect, but if given simultaneously with epinephrine, the rise in O2 consumption caused by the latter was reduced. In hyperthyroid patients there was an increased O2 consumption which was larger and reached its maximum sooner than in normals. This abnormal reaction disappeared after thyroidectomy. Patients with a lowered metabolism due to hypopituitarism exhibited a smaller increase in O2 consumption after injection of epinephrine than normal subjects. A patient with an abnormally high nor-epinephrine level in blood and urine, probably due to phaeochromocytoma, showed no significant change in O2 consumption following subcutaneous injection of epinephrine.