To determine the effect of sympathetic neural and hormonal (epinephrine) input on islet cell hormonal responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetic recipients of intrahepatic islet transplantation. We hypothesize that α-adrenergic (neural) blockage will abolish insulin-mediated suppression of C-peptide, attenuating α-cell glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia, and that β-adrenergic (hormonal) blockage will have no effect. Glucose counterregulatory responses will be measured during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamps on three occasions with randomized, double-blind administration of the α-adrenergic blocker phentolamine, the β-adrenergic blocker propranolol, or placebo. The demonstration of neural rather than hormonal regulation of the transplanted islet cell response to hypoglycemia is critical for understanding the mechanism for protection from hypoglycemia afforded by intrahepatically transplanted.
This study is designed to test the hypothesis that α-adrenergic (neural) blockade will abolish insulin-mediated suppression of C-peptide, attenuating α-cell glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia, and that β-adrenergic (hormonal) blockade will have no effect. Glucose counterregulatory responses will be measured during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamps on three occasions with randomized, double-blind administration of the α-adrenergic blocker phentolamine, the β-adrenergic blocker propranolol, or placebo. The demonstration of neural rather than hormonal regulation of the transplanted islet cell response to hypoglycemia is critical for understanding the mechanism for protection from hypoglycemia afforded by intrahepatically transplanted islets. Glucose counterregulation has not been studied in type 1 diabetic recipients of extrahepatic islet transplantation. Comparison of glucose counterregulatory responses measured during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamps will be compared to those obtained from type 1 diabetic recipients of intrahepatic islet transplantation studied under the placebo condition above. Glucose counterregulation has not been directly compared between recipients of intrahepatic auto- and allo-islet transplantation. Direct comparison of glucose counterregulatory responses under the same experimental conditions is required to understand whether mechanisms other than the glucagon response may be important to the reported hypoglycemia affecting pancreatectomized recipients of islet auto-transplantation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
11
Physiologic receptor blockade (α1-receptor).
Physiologic receptor blockade (β2-receptor).
100mL bag of Normal Saline Solution (NSS).
University of Pennsylvania - Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
C-PEPTIDE suppression during hyperinsulinemia euglycemia.
The primary outcome measures will be the levels of C-peptide during hyperinsulinemia euglycemia.
Time frame: For C-peptide at the 60-90 time-point during the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamp.
GLUCAGON activation during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia.
The primary outcome measures will be the levels of glucagon during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia.
Time frame: For Glucagon at the 150-180 minute time-point during the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamp.
EPINEPHRINE during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia.
Secondary outcome measures will include levels of epinephrine during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia.
Time frame: During metabolic testing in the 150-180 minute time-point of the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamp.
Rates of ENDOGENOUS GLUCOSE PRODUCTION during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia.
Secondary outcome measures will include rates of endogenous glucose production during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia
Time frame: During metabolic testing in the 150-180 minute time-point of the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic-hypoglycemic clamp.
AUTONOMIC SYMPTOMS during hyperinsulinemia
Secondary outcome measures will include levels of autonomic symptoms during hyperinsulinemia hypoglycemia. Autonomic symptoms will be measured by answering a short symptoms questionnaire with a level scale of 0-5.
Time frame: During metabolic testing; this symptom questionnaire will be asked at the following time points: -15min, -1min, 30min, 60min,75min, 90min,120min, 150min, 165min, 180min.
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