Capsaicin-sensitive nerves are required for glucostasis but not for catecholamine output during hypoglycemia in rats

We have studied the glucose response and catecholamine (CA) response to insulin in the conscious rat to evaluate the role of sensory fibers in these responses in animals pretreated with capsaicin as neonates. In contrast to previous results obtained in anesthetized rats (Z. Khalil, B.G. Livett, and P.D. Marley. J. Physiol. Lond. 370: 201-215, 1986; Z. Khalil, B.G. Livett, and P.D. Marley. J. Physiol. Lond. 391: 511-526, 1987.), in conscious rats, insulin (1 IU/kg iv) produced only a mild hypoglycemia, which quickly returned to resting levels and caused no significant changes in plasma epinephrine levels. Somatostatin and SMS-(201-995), a somatostatin analogue, both potentiated and prolonged the insulin-induced hypoglycemia, resulting in an increase in circulating CA levels that was suppressed by hexamethonium and atropine. In capsaicin-pretreated rats the blood glucose levels at 90 min after insulin were significantly lower than those in vehicle-pretreated rats both in the presence (1 IU/kg insulin, 48 +/...