Hyperglycemia induced by electrical stimulation of lateral part of dorsal parabrachial nucleus.

Electrical stimulation of the lateral part of the dorsal parabrachial nucleus (PBD) induces hyperglycemia by enhancing glucagon secretion and suppressing insulin secretion in rats. The mechanism of this effect in the light period was examined by use of blockers of the autonomic nervous system. Hexamethonium, a ganglion blocker, and propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, markedly inhibited the hyperglycemic response to stimulation of the lateral part of the PBD (LPBD). In contrast, phenoxybenzamine, an alpha-adrenergic blocker, and atropine methylnitrate, a muscarinic blocker, had no effect. Because previous studies showed that bilateral lesions of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) eliminated hyperglycemia induced by intracranial injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and that blinding largely suppressed the hyperglycemia, the effects of these two treatments on hyperglycemia induced by electrical stimulation of the LPBD were examined. SCN lesions abolished the hyperglycemic response but did not affect the hyperglucagonemic response. Results 4 wk after orbital enucleation were similar to those after SCN lesions. These findings suggest that the SCN and a beta-adrenergic mechanism are involved in the hyperglycemic response to LPBD stimulation.