Decreased beta-adrenergic responses of rat small intestine due to non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Relaxing responses to salbutamol of duodenum, jejunum and ileum isolated from alloxan-induced non-insulin-dependent diabetic rats were investigated by means of pharmacodynamic analysis using pD2 (apparent receptor affinity) and alpha E (intrinsic activity) values. beta-Adrenergic responses of these three intestinal parts of diabetic rats were found to be significantly decreased when compared to controls. The decreased responses may be attributable to a decrease in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors. The gastro-intestinal manifestations reported in diabetic patients are possibly linked to the occurrence of a decrease in beta-adrenergic receptors. Furthermore, this model seems to be useful for the investigations of gastro-intestinal complications resulting from non-insulin-dependent diabetes.