Mechanism of insulin-induced paralysis of muscles from potassium-depleted rats.
Zinc-free insulin elicited a reduction in the potassium conductance of muscle fibers from potassium-depleted muscle, which led to depolarization, blockage of action-poteintial mechanism, and paralysis.  These changes are proposed as the mechanism of insulin-induced paralysis in patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis.  A similar effect by concanavalin a suggests that the effect may be mediated through the insulin receptors.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010245:Paralyses, Familial Periodic / Q000378:metabolism; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011955:Receptors, Drug
D007328:Insulin; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D003208:Concanavalin A; D011188:Potassium