Plasma glucagon and glucose recovery after hypoglycemia: the effect of total autonomic blockade

The role of the autonomic nervous system in the glucagon response to hypoglycemia has not been fully clarified. We have studied the effect of total pharmacological blockade of the autonomic nervous system (concomitant alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade with simultaneous atropine injection) and of isolated alpha-adrenergic blockade on hormonal responses to hypoglycemia and on blood glucose recovery after hypoglycemia in healthy subjects. Neither of the pharmacological blockades had any significant effects on plasma glucagon responses to hypoglycemia nor had they any effect on the rate of blood glucose recovery after hypoglycemia. We conclude that the autonomic nervous system has no major influence on the glucagon response to hypoglycemia in healthy man. Changes in autonomic nervous activity are not essential for blood glucose recovery after hypoglycemia in healthy man.