LOW-DOSE ANGIOTENSIN-II INCREASES GLUCOSE DISPOSAL RATE DURING EUGLYCEMIC HYPERINSULINEMIA

To study the metabolic effects of angiotensin II we examined the gluco se disposal rate and calf blood flow in healthy men (n = 39) during eu glycemic hyperinsulinemia followed by a period with simultaneous angio tensin II infusion at a low dose (0.1 ng/kg/min). Angiotensin II infus ion abruptly increased the glucose disposal rate significantly as comp ared with glucose disposal rate during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia onl y. There were no differences in blood glucose or plasma insulin betwee n the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic and the angiotensin II infusion peri od. During hyperinsulinemia alone, blood pressure was unchanged while calf muscle blood flow increased significantly as compared with the ba seline period, while during the angiotensin infusion the systolic bloo d pressure increased and calf blood flow decreased significantly as co mpared with the hyperinsulinemic period. We conclude that angiotensin II within physiological range stimulates insulin-mediated glucose upta ke in healthy men. The mechanisms are, however, unclear, but changes i n blood flow are probably not responsible for the observed effects.