Sex differences in the adrenergic response to hypoglycemic stress in human

We have found different patterns of adrenergic response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in men and women. The differences involve the readiness of adrenergic reactivity, the magnitude of the responses, and the nature of secreted amines. In men, a strong and transient discharge of epinephrine (E) is observed in plasma, corresponding to a great increase in the urinary level of this amine in the 2 h period following insulin. In women, the adrenergic response is delayed and consists of moderately increased amounts of E and norepinephrine (NE) which persist in plasma for a longer period. From the correlations observed between urinary amount and the increase of plasmatic catecholamines after 30, 45, and 60 min, it may be assumed that urinary data may reflect the cumulative plasma levels of catecholamines in the corresponding period, but not the precise pattern of plasmatic changes. Our findings show that the differences in adrenergic behavior previously observed in men and women under the effect of psychological stress, may also be induced by a metabolic stimulus such a insulin hypoglycemia; however, women, but not men, exhibit a mild release of NE under this metabolic stress.