title: Effects of oxytocin delivery on counter-regulatory hormone response in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic subjects.
abstract: In insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic subjects (n = 7) with intact hormone response to hypoglycaemia, oxytocin infusion (0.2 mU/min over 60 min) produced significant rises in basal plasma glucagon and adrenaline levels, while it reduced basal plasma cortisol levels. During insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, oxytocin potentiated the increases in plasma glucagon and adrenaline, while an inhibitory effect on plasma cortisol levels was still present. In insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic subjects (n = 7) with blunted counter-regulatory hormone response to hypoglycaemia, the same dose of oxytocin (0.2 mU/min over 60 min) increased basal plasma glucose and glucagon concentrations and lowered basal plasma cortisol concentration. In the same group of patients, oxytocin delivery (0.2 mU/min), simultaneously to an insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, produced a significant elevation of plasma glucagon and adrenaline concentrations thus enhancing glucose recovery from hypoglycaemia. In conclusion, in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic patients, oxytocin delivery enhances plasma glucagon and adrenaline levels in basal conditions and during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Gerontologia e Geriatria, 1st Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolisso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sgambato
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizza
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tesauro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varricchio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D010121:Oxytocin; D005934:Glucagon; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D004837:Epinephrine