Effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia upon plasma renin activity in man.

The effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia upon plasma renin activity (PRA) was assessed in 4 normal volunteers, 4 adrenalectomized patients and 10 patients with various pituitary hormone deficiences. Significant increases in PRA were observed in all three groups. The PRA responses to hypoglcemia could be blocked by propranolol, and appeared to be potentiated by theophyline. It is concluded that sympathetic reflex stimulation, not adrenal-dependent and not pituitary-dependent, is the major mechanism for this phenomenon in man and that this adrenergic effect may be mediated by cyclic AMP.