Brain region-dependent effects of dexamethasone on counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia in conscious rats.

The aim of this study was to determine whether activation of central type II glucocorticoid receptors can blunt autonomic nervous system counterregulatory responses to subsequent hypoglycemia. Sixty conscious unrestrained Sprague-Dawley rats were studied during 2-day experiments. Day 1 consisted of either two episodes of clamped 2-h hyperinsulinemic (30 pmol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) hypoglycemia (2.

The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on counterregulatory responses during repeated hypoglycemia in conscious normal rats.

We previously determined that both antecedent hypoglycemia and elevated cortisol levels blunt neuroendocrine and metabolic responses to subsequent hypoglycemia in conscious, unrestrained rats. The adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) has been shown in several studies to oppose corticosteroid action. The purpose of this study was to determine if DHEA-S could preserve counterregulatory responses during repeated hypoglycemia.