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ADRENALINE CAUSES HYPOKALAEMIA IN MAN BY β2 ADRENOCEPTOR STIMULATON
Author(s) -
And A. D. STRUTHERS,
REID J. L.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1984.tb03436.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , hypokalemia
SUMMARY Increased circulating adrenaline produces systemic hypokalaemia by the stimulation of a membrane bound Na/K ATPase. In man, this enzyme appears to be linked to an adrenoceptor of the β‐subtype. We have further studied the subtype of β‐adrenoceptor involved by infusing adrenaline intravenously in normal volunteers after pretreatment with either a selective β2 antagonist (ICI 118551) or placebo. During the adrenaline infusion the serum potassium fell from 4.08 ± 0.21 to 3.32 ± 0.25 mmol/1 ( P <0.002). This adrenaline induced hypokalaemia was completely blocked by ICI 118551 (3.82 ± 0.13 to 4.03 ± 0.22 mmol/1, NS). Adrenaline also caused electrocardiographic changes of T wave flattening (–1.8 ± 1.5 mm, P <005) whereas the T wave height increased after ICI 118551 (51.0 ± 0.9 mm, P <005). This suggests that adrenaline acts via β2 adrenoceptors in man to cause potassium influx and systemic hypokalaemia.