Chronic noise stress and insulin secretion in male rats.

The effect of chronic noise, followed by acute noise and forced swimming, on basal glucose and insulin levels was studied in adult male rats. Chronic noise did not modify basal levels of either measured variable before or after the exposure of rats to acute stress. Acute noise decreased serum glucose and insulin levels, although hypoglycemia was transient. Forced swimming decreased insulin and increased glucose levels. Our results indicate that: serum insulin levels were sensitive to both physiological and psychological stresses, forced swimming caused more marked glucose and insulin responses than noise exposure, chronic intermittent noise did not alter pancreatic function, and no sign of adaptation was apparent after repeated exposure to noise.