title: Splanchnic haemodynamic changes during acute hypoglycaemia in man.
abstract: 1. Splanchnic haemodynamic changes were studied in seven healthy subjects during hypoglycaemia induced by the intravenous infusion of insulin. Superior mesenteric artery blood flow and cardiac output were examined noninvasively by a Doppler ultrasound technique. 2. Blood glucose concentration fell from 4.5 (0.14) mmol/l basally to 1.5 (0.09) mmol/l [mean (SEM), P less than 0.003] at the hypoglycaemic reaction ('R') and recovered to baseline by 'R' + 60 min. There was an associated rise in plasma glucagon, adrenaline and noradrenaline levels. 3. Superior mesenteric artery blood flow rose at 'R' from a basal value of 532 (38) ml/min to a peak of 803 (73) ml/min at 'R' + 10 min [mean (SEM), P less than 0.005] and remained significantly elevated until 'R' + 40 min. Resistance in this vessel fell by 33% at 'R' + 10 min (P less than 0.005) and remained significantly low until 'R' + 40 min. 4. Cardiac output rose by 33% at 'R' (P less than 0.004) and returned to normal by 'R' + 20 min. This was associated with a 24% rise in pulse rate (P less than 0.03), but no change in stroke volume or mean arterial pressure. Total peripheral resistance fell by 21% at 'R' (P less than 0.005) and had returned to normal by 'R' + 20 min. 5. The sustained rise in splanchnic blood flow during hypoglycaemic recovery may be of homoeostatic importance by providing metabolic fuel to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary, U.K.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Braatvedt
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Newrick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halliwell
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Corrall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011674:Pulse / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005934:Glucagon; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine