1985 年 28 巻 11 号 p. 1267-1269
High doses of atropine sulfate have a parasympatholytic effect, but low doses have a parasympathomimetic effect. Variations in the R-R interval in electrocardiogram were studied before and after low-dose atropine injection in 16 healthy controls and 24 diabetic patients.
The R-R interval variations during deep breathing were significantly prolonged by low-dose atropine administration in diabetics without sensory or autonomic neuropathy. The variations were also prolonged in diabetics without sensory neuropathy, but with autonomic nerve dysfunction.
However in diabetics with sensory neuropathy, there was no response to low-dose atropine injection.
These findings suggest that a reserve capacity of the parasympathetic nerve function is retained in diabetics without sensory neuropathy.