Thermoregulatory and related responses to 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration in humans

Hypothermia in humans during insulin-induced glucopenia has been largely attributed to impaired heat production. To further study the mechanism for hypothermia during glucoprivation six normal males were given 20-min intravenous infusions of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), 50 mg/kg, a competitive inhibitor of glucose utilization. Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange was measured to determine heat production by indirect calorimetry. Decreases in core temperature were initially associated with activation of mechanisms for heat loss such as sweating and hyperpnea 30-120 min after 2-DG infusion. Hypothermia persisted in spite of markedly increased plasma catecholamine, glucose, and free fatty acid levels from 60 to 180 min and increased heat production from 120 to 180 min after 2-DG infusion. Thus in contrast to the proposed mechanism for insulin-induced hypothermia, the hypothermia of 2-DG-induced glucoprivation is a consequence of increased heat loss and not of decreased heat production.