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  • Title: Adrenaline causes hypokalaemia in man by beta 2 adrenoceptor stimulation.
    Author: Struthers AD, Reid JL.
    Journal: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf); 1984 Apr; 20(4):409-14. PubMed ID: 6143631.
    Abstract:
    Increased circulating adrenaline produces systemic hypokalaemia by the stimulation of a membrane bound Na/K ATPase. In man, this enzyme appears to be linked to an adrenoceptor of the beta-subtype. We have further studied the subtype of beta-adrenoceptor involved by infusing adrenaline intravenously in normal volunteers after pretreatment with either a selective beta 2 antagonist (ICI 118551) or placebo. During the adrenaline infusion the serum potassium fell from 4.08 +/- 0.21 to 3.32 +/- 0.25 mmol/l (P less than 0.002). This adrenaline induced hypokalaemia was completely blocked by ICI 118551 (3.82 +/- 0.13 to 4.03 +/- 0.22 mmol/l, NS). Adrenaline also caused electrocardiographic changes of T wave flattening (-1.8 +/- 1.5 mm, P less than 0.05) whereas the T wave height increased after ICI 118551 (+ 1.0 +/- 0.9 mm, P less than 0.05). This suggests that adrenaline acts via beta 2 adrenoceptors in man to cause potassium influx and systemic hypokalaemia.
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