Regulation of glucose kinetics during intense exercise in humans:: Effects of α- and β-adrenergic blockade

This study examined the effect of combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade on glucose kinetics during intense exercise. Six endurance-trained men exercised for 20 minutes at approximately 78% of their peak oxygen consumption (VO2) following ingestion of a placebo (CON) or combined a- (prazosin hydrochloride) and beta- (timolol maleate) adrenoceptor antagonists (BLK). Plasma glucose increased during exercise in CON (0 minutes: 5.5 +/- 0.1; 20 minutes: 6.5 0.3 mmol - L-1, P < .05). In BLK, the exercise-induced increase in plasma glucose was abolished (0 minutes: 5.7 +/- 0.3; 20 minutes: 5.7 +/- 0.1 mmol . L-1). Glucose kinetics were measured using a primed, continuous infusion of [6,6-H-2] glucose. Glucose production wwas not different between trials; on average these values were 25.3 +/- 3.9 and 30.9 +/- 4.4 mumol . kg(-1) - min(-1) in CON and BLK, respectively. Glucose uptake during exercise was greater (P < .05) in BLK (30.6 +/- 4.6 mumol . kg(-1) . min(-1)) compared with CON (18.4 +/- 2.5 mumol . kg(-1) . min(-1)). In BLIK, plasma insulin and catecholamines were higher (P < .05), while plasma glucagon was unchanged from CON. Free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol were lower (P < .05) in BLK. These findings demonstrate that adrenergic blockade during intense exercise results in a blunted plasma glucose response that is due to enhanced glucose uptake, with no significant change in glucose production. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.