Effect of hyperglycemia on biogenic amines, beta-endorphin and insulin of the rat brain.

Three experiments were designed to study the changes in brain biogenic amines, beta-endorphin and insulin in response to hyperglycemia in adult male rats. In all three experiments, animals were decapitated 10 minutes post injection (IP) of either 2.5 ml of 40% glucose or 0.9% saline. In the first experiment brain DA, NE, 5-HT and 5-HIAA were measured using fluorometric method. Plasma glucose, insulin (RIA) and corticosterone (CPB) were also determined. In addition to these measurements, brain beta-endorphin was determined (RIA) in the second experiment and brain insulin (RIA) in the third experiment. In all three experiments the hyperglycemic groups showed a significant increase in plasma insulin, brain NE and 5-HT and a significant decrease in brain 5-HIAA and no significant change in plasma corticosterone, brain DA, beta-endorphin and insulin. The results obtained in these experiments suggest that high levels of glucose may have an inhibitory effect on the metabolism of NE and 5-HT resulting in increases in the level of both amines. They also suggest that brain insulin is independent of the pancreatic one since high blood glucose did not influence the central level.