PANCURONIUM EFFECT ON THE NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION OF HYPOGLYCEMIC RATS

An unexpected response in a hypoglycemic patient to a muscle relaxant formed the basis for the research presented in this study. There was n o information available in the accessible literature and references ga ve no data on this subject. Bur because perioperative hypoglycemia is not unusual, we scheduled this experimental work. Four groups of 6 whi te adult Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Group A was the no rmoglycemia control group, with blood glucoce levels of 80-120 mg/dl. Groups B, C and D were made hypoglycemic by i.v. injection of insulin 1 IU/100 g b.w. Blood glucose levels were reduced to 50% of the contro l values in hypoglycemic animals, which were sacrificed 40 min later. Phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparations were placed in a 100 ml bath containing Paradelis-Zai-mis solution, 37 degrees C, pH 7.2, aerated w ith O-2/CO2:95/5%. After stabilization and recording of neuromuscular activity pancuronium bromide was administered in doses of 1.5 x 10(-9) M in groups A and B, 3 x 10(-9) M in group C and 5 x 10(-9) M in grou p D. Statistical analysis between A-B, A-C, A-D groups was done with S tudent's paired t test. Results showed that under hypoglycemic conditi ons the amount of pancuronium bromide needed for complete neuromuscula r blockade was 2.5-fold greater than that needed in normoglycemic cond itions. These findings suggest that the integrity of the neuromuscular junction is altered during hypoglycemia.