PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - L A Buzzeo
AU  - J M Steele, Jr
AU  - J Lowenstein
TI  - Unimpaired beta adrenergic responses during prazosin administration.
DP  - 1979 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 345--349
VI  - 211
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/211/2/345.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/211/2/345.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1979 Nov 01; 211
AB  - We have examined insulin-induced hypoglycemia to determine whether prazosin inhibits the response to sympathetic stimulation, either centrally or at beta adrenergic receptors. Nine patients with essential hypertension were studied during administration of prazosin, hydralazine or placebo. Plasma renin activity increased significantly with hydralazine and was unchanged during prazosin administration. In response to insulin, blood glucose decreased equally with both drugs and placebo, and small increases in dopamine beta-hydroxylase occurred. Plasma renin activity and heart rate increased during hypoglycemia; the increases were greater in patients taking prazosin or hydralazine. The unimpaired responses of plasma dopamine beta-hydroxylase, renin activity and heart rate to insulin-induced hypoglycemia provide evidence that prazosin does not block either the sympathetic discharge elicited by central stimulation (hypoglycemia) or the responses mediated through beta adrenergic receptors.