Effect of chemical sympathectomy, adrenalectomy and adrenergic alpha- and beta-blocking agents on the development of hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin in the rat

Sympathetic nervous system and experimental diabetes: role of adrenal medullary hormones

The sympathetic nervous system is of major importance in the regulation of various physiological functions. The present review discusses the mechanisms which control glucose homeostasis and the role of the sympathetic nervous system in experimental diabetes with special emphasis on the role of adrenal medullary hormones, over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system and its relationship to hypertension in the diabetic state and the effect of stress. The chapter also reviews the ability of various drugs and pharmacological agents to produce hyperglycemia in experimental animals and how this information can be used in screening new chemical entities and in differentiating the mode of action of these agents.

Adrenergic receptors and the onset of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice

Treatment with yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenergic blocker, prior to the injection of a subdiabetogenic dose of streptozotocin (STZ) produced hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in mice 7 days later. Prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic blocker, was ineffective. The capacity of phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine to potentiate the diabetogenic effect of STZ was intermediate between that of yohimbine and prazosin. Propranolol and hexamethonium inhibited the potentiating action of yohimbine. Yohimbine enhanced the potentiating effect of isoproterenol on the STZ-induced diabetes. Acute changes in phase glucose and insulin levels induced by STZ were potentiated by yohimbine but not by prazosin. The insulin releasing ability of the pancreatic islets 7 days after STZ was all but lost in mice pretreated with yohimbine but not with prazosin. These results suggest that the beta- and alpha 2-, not alpha 1-adrenergic system which modulates insulin release from pancreatic islets influences the response to the diabetogenic action of STZ in mice.

Potentiation of the diabetogenic effect of streptozocin by phentolamine in the rat

The effect of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents and a beta2-agonist, salbutamol, on the diabetogenic effects of streptozocin (threshold doses) was investigated in the rat. Phentolamine and salbutamol potentiated the diabetogenic effect of streptozocin but phenoxybenzamine, tolazoline, oxprenolol and propranolol were without effect. The potentiating effect of phentolamine was blocked by oxprenolol. Potentiation of the diabetogenic effect by phentolamine is not related to alpha-adrenoceptor block, vasodilatation or insulin release. But it may be related to its ability to stimulate beta-adrenoceptors.