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Insulin-mediated vasodilation and glucose uptake are functionally linked in humans
S J Cleland1, J R Petrie, S Ueda
1Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. scleland@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|February 4, 1999
Summary
Insulin
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Insulin's role in glucose metabolism is well-established.
- Local insulin infusion causes vasodilation, suggesting a link to glucose uptake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between whole-body insulin sensitivity and forearm vasodilation.
- To determine if local insulin-mediated vasodilation is dependent on glucose uptake.
Main Methods:
- Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to measure whole-body insulin sensitivity (M).
- Bilateral venous occlusion plethysmography for forearm blood flow (FBFR) during intra-arterial insulin/glucose infusion.
- Analysis of correlation between M and %FBFR, controlling for BMI, age, and blood pressure.
Main Results:
- Whole-body insulin sensitivity (M) was significantly correlated with forearm vasodilation (%FBFR).
- Forearm vasodilation (%FBFR) independently predicted insulin sensitivity (M) in regression analysis.
- No significant correlation was found between %FBFR and BMI, age, or mean arterial pressure.
Conclusions:
- A functional relationship exists between insulin's metabolic and vascular actions.
- This relationship may involve insulin-mediated glucose uptake at the endothelial level.
- Findings support insulin's direct role in regulating vascular tone.