On the Effect of Insulin on the Sensitivity of the Respiratory Centre.

Abstract

Summary.Following the administration of insulin in experiments on animals and human subjects a rise has most frequently been found in the ventilation. In animal experiments and in some few on human subjects a reduction was found in the CO2 content of the blood.Determinations of the sensitivity of the respiratory centre during insulin action do not seem to be available.The results are reported of a series of investigations on the alveolar CO2 tension in man following administration of large and small doses of insulin on a high and on a low carbohydrate diet. The average rise in the ventilation in these experiments was 1.09–1.35 1 per min. after large doses, 0.57–0.32 1 per min. after small doses. At the same time the alveolar CO2 tension rose on the average 1.45–2.15 mm, the rise being the same after large and small doses.By a graphic representation of the ventilation and the alveolar CO2 tension and on the basis of previous investigations by Marius Nielsen it can be shown that in nearly all cases there is a reduction in the sensitivity of the respiratory centre after small as well as after large doses of insulin. The preceding diet is of no significance for this change in sensitivity.