ADRENOCORTICAL ACTIVITY DURING INDUCED HYPOGLYCAEMIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Free plasma corticosteroids were determined by a fluorimetric method before and during hypoglycaemia, induced by the intravenous injection of insulin. The investigation was performed on 10 healthy subjects. The hypoglycaemia was most marked 20–30 minutes after the injection of insulin. 40 minutes after the injection of insulin the plasma corticosteroids had reached a value significantly above the pre-injection level. 60 minutes after the insulin injection the plasma corticosteroid level had reached its maximum. The mechanism and the possibility of using the experimental technique as a hypophyseal-adrenocortical function test are discussed.