Diabetogenic action of GH and cortisol in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Aspects of the mechanisms behind the Somogyi phenomenon.
The effect on glucose homeostasis of a transient elevation of plasma growth hormone (GH) and cortisol was studied over 6 h in 14 male patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) by using an i.v. somatostatin (100 micrograms/h) - insulin (0.4 mU/kg/min) glucose (3 mg/kg/min) - infusion test (SIGIT). GH (20 mU/kg) was given as a 60 min i.v. infusion during the initial SIGIT period raising the plasma GH level to about 40 micrograms/l, and returning to low basal within 3 h. ACTH (0.1 mg) was given as an i.v. bolus injection at the start of the SIGIT, resulting in plasma cortisol peak values of about 900 nmol/l within 2-3 h. GH raised blood glucose after a lag of 4 h while ACTH alone had no effect. However, ACTH added to GH enhanced the diabetogenic effect of GH. It is concluded that an episodic increase in circulating GH-cortisol, resembling the responses of these hormones to an insulin-induced hypoglycemia, exerts a diabetogenic effect in IDDM-patients not deprived of insulin. While GH is essential in this respect the diabetogenic effect of cortisol is evident only in conjunction with GH.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D013004:Somatostatin
D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone