Effect of hypoglycemia on extracellular levels of cyclic AMP in man.

This study was designed to assess the response of cyclic AMP to "endogenous" hormonal stimulation resulting from insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Insulin was administered to four normal subjects and four adrenalectomized patients. Hypoglycemia resulted in four-fold increases in plasma cyclic AMP. This response is thought to be secondary to beta-adrenergic stimulation for the following reasons: (1) the response was absent in adrenalectomized, cortisol-treated subjects; (2) it was abolished by propranolol; and (3) urinary excretion of cyclic AMP did not reflect the rise in plasma cyclic AMP.