Effects of insulin on pressor responsiveness and baroreflex function in diabetes mellitus

The effects of insulin on pressor responsiveness to alpha agonist (phenylephrine) and angiotensin II, and baroreflex function were studied in fifteen diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy. The dose of phenylephrine required to increase systolic pressure by 25 mmHg (PD25) was significantly increased from 38 +/- 7 to 62 +/- 9 micrograms (p less than 0.05) after IV injection of 4 U of Actrapid monocomponent insulin. The dose of angiotensin II required to increase systolic pressure by 30 mmHg (AD30) was also increased from 0.29 +/- 0.07 to 0.48 +/- 0.10 micrograms (p less than 0.01). Following insulin administration, the dose-response curves for phenylephrine and angiotensin II were shifted to the right. The baroreflex sensitivity was not affected by insulin. In contrast, there was no significant change in PD25, AD30 or baroreflex sensitivity after the injection of saline. These results suggest that insulin attenuates the pressor responsiveness to alpha agonist and angiotensin II, which may be one of the significant mechanisms in insulin-induced vasodilation.