The Hypoglycemic Effect of Propranolol[*]

Abstract

Studies were carried out on 60 dogs to determine the effect of intravenous propranolol on the blood glucose concentration in anesthetized dogs in the basal state. Doses of propranolol ranging from 25-600 µg/kg given for three or 120 minutes caused a significant decrease in the blood glucose in each dog. A dose-response relationship was not evident except for the 600 µg/kg dose which was considerably larger than the others. It was suggested that with the smaller doses the differences in responses are small and that more studies would show these differences. Atropine was necessary in some dogs to control the bradycardia due to propranolol Our findings showed that atropine did not have a hypoglycemic effect as previously reported by others but rather tended to cause an increase in the blood glucose in all dogs.

Key words

Hypoglycemic Effect of Propranolol - Hyperglycemic Effect of Atropine

1 Supported by a grant from the American Heart Association,Akron District Branch

1 Supported by a grant from the American Heart Association,Akron District Branch