The effect of altered autonomic tone on alanine induced insulin secretion

The effect of pharmacologically induced altered autonomic tone upon alanine stimulated insulin release was examined in adult norgrel dogs. In control studies, intravenous administration of alanine, 1 gm/kg body weight resulted in a mean rise in plasma insulin concentration from basal levels of 7.4 (+/- 2) MUU/ml to a maximum of 24.5 (+/- 6) muU/ml by 10 minutes after injection. In paired studies, epinephrine infusion or atropine administration had no significant effect on the insulin rise in response to the alanine stimulus. This data indicates that in contrast to a glucose stimulus, the insulin response to the amino acid alanine is not influenced by epinephrine or cholinergic blockade. These studies provide further evidence that alanine acts through alternate pathways, different from those utilized by glucose to effect insulin secretion.