Effect of adrenergic blockade on glucagon and growth hormone secretion in normal and diabetic children

Pediatric Research
M A Sperling, S Voina

Abstract

Studies were conducted in four normal and six diabetic children to assess the role of adrenergic blockade on basal and arginine-stimulated growth hormone and glucagon secreation. Each subject had, on three separate occasions, infusion of arginine alone or in conjunction with alpha (phentolamine) or beta (propranolol) adrenergic blockade. Clinically, there was evidence of adequate blockade by each agent. Basal hormone growth levels were not significantly different in the two groups (1.3 +/- 0.2 to 2.1 +/- 1.0 ng/ml in normal subjects; 3.0 +/- 1.1 to 6.0 +/- 3.1 ng/ml in diabetics (mean +/- 1 SEM)) but the peak growth hormone after arginine was significantly greater in the diabetic children than control subjects (34.3 +/- 7.2 versus 12.3 +/- 3.1); in both groups alpha-blockade suppressed the growth hormone response, whereas beta-blockade had no significant effect. Basal glucagon concentrations were similar in both groups (147 +/- 31 to 214 +/- 21 pg/ml in normal subjects; 100 +/- 20 to 124 +/- 17 pg/ml in diabetics on three different occasions) despite the coexistent hyperglycemia of the diabetics. Neither basal nor maximally stimulated glucagon secretion was significantly affected by alpha or beta blockade in the juvenile diabet...Continue Reading

Citations

May 1, 1983·Archives of Disease in Childhood·N C FraserN S Brown
Dec 1, 1980·The American Journal of Physiology·S A Metz, R P Robertson

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