Effect of insulin and adrenaline on cyclic AMP in the diaphragm of normal and diabetic rats.

The effects of insulin and adrenaline on cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in diaphragms of normal, streptozotocin-diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats were studied. Adrenaline caused a biphasic rise in cAMP with peak values of cAMP within the first few minutes. Diaphragms of diabetic rats showed an increased responsiveness to adrenaline. Injection of insulin to diabetic rats normalized the rise in cAMP after addition of adrenaline. There was no difference in basal levels of cAMP between diaphragms of normal, diabetic or insulin-treated diabetic rats. Insulin in vitro did not affect basal cAMP-levels or the release of cAMP from the tissue but significantly decreased adrenaline-induced peak levels of cAMP. This effect of insulin was abolished by theophylline. The results of the present study suggest that experimental diabetes is associated with changes of the adenylate cyclase and/or phosphodiesterase enzyme activities in skeletal muscle resulting in an increased responsiveness to adrenaline. Since insulin in vitro depressed the adrenaline-induced elevation of cAMP the increased responsiveness in diaphragms of diabetic rats might be attributed to the specific lack of insulin.