1983 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 95-99
Plasma cyclic AMP responses to adrenaline administration in normal volunteers, patients with spinocerebellar degeneration, bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema, and diabetes mellitus were studied. Intramuscular administration of low doses (0.1 - 0.4 mg/person) of adrenaline caused a dosedependent increase in plasma cyclic AMP. The increase in cyclic AMP was completely prevented by propranolol, while it was not affected by phentolamine or atropine. In patients with spinocerebellar degeneration, the concentrations of plasma cyclic AMP both before and after adrenaline administration were lower than in normal subjects. In asthmatic patients, the plasma cyclic AMP increase after adrenaline administration was smaller than that of the healthy controls. The plasma concentration of cyclic AMP in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes reached the peak level more slowly than in diabetic patients with dietary control alone. Examining changes in the plasma cyclic AMP level after adrenaline administration appears to be a useful means for assessing the degree of β-adrenergic dysfunction.
