AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 239, Issue 3 291-R295, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Thermoregulatory and related responses to 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration in humans
D. A. Thompson, U. Lilavivathana, R. G. Campbell, S. L. Welle and A. B. Craig
Hypothermia in humans during insulin-induced glucopenia has been largely
attributed to impaired heat production. To further study the mechanism for
hypothermia during glucoprivation six normal males were given 20-min
intravenous infusions of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), 50 mg/kg, a competitive
inhibitor of glucose utilization. Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange was
measured to determine heat production by indirect calorimetry. Decreases in
core temperature were initially associated with activation of mechanisms
for heat loss such as sweating and hyperpnea 30-120 min after 2-DG
infusion. Hypothermia persisted in spite of markedly increased plasma
catecholamine, glucose, and free fatty acid levels from 60 to 180 min and
increased heat production from 120 to 180 min after 2-DG infusion. Thus in
contrast to the proposed mechanism for insulin-induced hypothermia, the
hypothermia of 2-DG-induced glucoprivation is a consequence of increased
heat loss and not of decreased heat production.
