Hypoglycaemia and acute stress-induced hyperinsulinaemia in mice infected with Bordetella pertussis or treated with pertussis toxin.

Intranasal infection of mice with a sublethal dose of Bordetella pertussis produced hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. Exposure to ether vapour did not modify serum insulin concentrations in control mice, but produced a marked transient hyperinsulinaemia in mice infected with B. pertussis. A similar hyperinsulinaemia in infected, but not control, mice was also seen after a brief (10-15 s) period of anoxia (produced by exposure to an atmosphere of 100% N2 or 100% CO2), or following the injection of histamine or 2-deoxyglucose. Exposure to cold (2-4 degrees C) or hypoxia (8% O2 in 92% N2), however, did not alter serum concentrations of insulin in control or infected mice. The hyperinsulinaemic response to ether stress observed in mice infected with B. pertussis was abolished by pretreatment with alloxan. The hyperglycaemic effects of histamine and 2-deoxyglucose were attenuated or abolished in mice infected with B. pertussis. However, none of the stimuli which produced hyperinsulinaemia in the infected mice resulted in any further lowering of the blood glucose concentration. Pretreatment of mice with pertussis toxin (150 ng/mouse, i.v.) produced hypoglycaemia similar in magnitude to that found in animals infected with B. pertussis. Moreover, exposure of mice treated with pertussis toxin to ether vapour produced marked hyperinsulinaemia. It is suggested that the metabolic alterations seen in animals infected with B. pertussis may be mediated by pertussis toxin.