Hormonal effects of norepinephrine on acute glucose disposal in humans: A minimal model analysis

Abstract

It is not known whether circulating norepinephrine (NE) has a direct hormonal influence on glucose disposal. This study examines whether moderate elevation of NE alters the disposal of an acute intravenous (IV) glucose load, as analysed by the minimal model of Bergman. Eight healthy normal subjects were infused with either 25 ng/kg/min NE (plasma NE 1,284 ± 259 pg/mL) or normal saline (plasma NE 314 ± 86 pg/mL), 30 minutes prior to and during an IV glucose tolerance test (GTT). There was a small but significant rise (P < .05) in basal blood glucose levels during the initial 30-minute NE infusion which was accompanied by a 40% increase (0.39 ± .02 to 0.59 ± .07 mmol/L, P < .01) in nonesterifi..