title: Pharmacological doses of oxytocin affect plasma hormone levels modulating glucose homeostasis in normal man.
abstract: Pharmacological doses of oxytocin administered in basal conditions evoked a rapid surge in plasma glucose and glucagon levels followed by a later increase in plasma insulin and adrenaline levels. The effects of oxytocin on plasma glucagon and adrenaline levels were potentiated by hypoglycemia. When the endogenous pancreas secretion was suppressed by cyclic somatostatin (150 micrograms/h) and exogenous glucagon (3.5 micrograms/h) and insulin (0.2 mU/kg.min) were both replaced, oxytocin (0.2 U/min) evoked a transient but significant increase in plasma glucose levels suppressing the glucose infusion rate (GIR) in the first 60 min. On the contrary at higher insulin infusion rate (0.6 mU/kg.min) plasma glucose levels and GIR remained unaffected throughout the study. Oxytocin seems also to potentiate glucose-induced insulin secretion as evidenced by hyperglycemic glucose clamp. In conclusion, pharmacological doses of oxytocin seem to exert a prevalent hyperglycemic effect by a combined action at the liver site (as glycogenolytic agent) and at the endocrine pancreas (as a stimulatory agent of A cell secretion).
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Gerontologia e Geriatria, First 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: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Passariello
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mignano
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*; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006706:Homeostasis; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D010121:Oxytocin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005934:Glucagon; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine