Parameters of energy and nitrogen metabolism in rats under insulin-induced hypoglycemia

Repeated severe insulin-induced hypoglycemia in rats has led to an increase in aminotransferase, glutaminase, and glutamate dehydrogenase activities in the liver; protease activities in tissues; and in blood serum levels of free fatty acids, urea, and uric acid. These changes are indicative of gluconeogenesis activation in animals exposed to hyperinsulinization. Decreased rates of glycolysis and glycogenolysis, reduced activities of NADP-dependent dehydrogenases, and substantial changes in the activities of enzymes responsible for metabolism of nucleotides and transmitter amino acids have been observed in the brain. All these changes are mainly associated with hypoglycemia and activation of the contrainsular system and can play a significant role in pathogenesis of posthypoglycemic encephalopathy.