Hypoglycemia induced by alpha-adrenergic stimulation during alkalosis.

Hypoglycemia developed during respiratory alkalosis in fasted rats. This hypoglycemia was markedly potentiated by the simultaneous injection of inhibitors of hepatic gluconeogenesis or a beta-adrenergic blocking agent; was not influenced by anti-insulin serum; was attenuated by hexamethonium; and was abolished by an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent. The rate of removal of injected glucose by peripheral tissues increased during alkalosis in insulin-deficient rats. The uptake of [14C]-glucose by the adipose tissue in vivo, which is stimulated by a very minute amount of insulin, was also stimulated during alkalosis whether or not the circulating insulin was neutralized with anti-insulin serum. It was concluded that, in alkalotic rats, blood glucose is rapidly utilized by peripheral tissues dependent on alpha-adrenergic stimulation, but without mediation of insulin and that this leads to development of hypoglycemia.