Kao I, Gordon A M
Science. 1975 May 16;188(4189):740-1. doi: 10.1126/science.1124397.
Zinc-free insulin elicited a reduction in the potassium conductance of muscle fibers from potassium-depleted muscle, which led to depolarization, blockage of action-poteintial mechanism, and paralysis. These changes are proposed as the mechanism of insulin-induced paralysis in patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. A similar effect by concanavalin a suggests that the effect may be mediated through the insulin receptors.
