The effect of the new ganglion-blocking substance tetramine on the organism's reactivity to insulin

Abstract

A study was made of the effect produced by Tetramine, a new ganglionblocking substance, synthesized at the institute of Organic Synthesis of the Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences, on the character of hypoglycemia caused by intramuscular insulin administration. The results demonstrated that subcutaneous injection of Tetramine 30 minutes prior to insulin administration always leads to a more marked reduction of blood sugar level than with the administration of insulin alone. In a considerable number of cases the blood sugar level showed a marked drop prior to the end of experiment, with the occurrence of hypoglycemic convulsions. Thus, preliminary administration of Tetramine causes a more pronounced insulin action, i.e., Tetramine increases the rabbit's sensitivity to insulin. The data obtained may be of some practical interest, since it shows that particular care should be taken in simultaneous prescription of insulin for hypertensive disease, diabetes and endarteritis, etc. If given against the background of Tetramine action usually therapeutic doses of insulin may cause untoward sharp hypoglycemic phenomena.