The effects of an intravenous bolus of ethanol on the changes in the blood glucose ,serum insulin and growth hormone (GH) responses to an intravenous glucose load were investigated in dogs. ethanol was used in 3 doses,namely, 0.75,1.5 and 3 ml/Kg. The largest dose was lethal to the dogs.The smaller dose (0.75 ml/Kg) was without apparent effect on the blood glucose level.l.V. ethanol at a dose 1.5 ml/Kg resulted in an increase in the fasting blood glucose level and significant glucose intmlerance.
The immediate effect of I.V. ethanol was a decrease in serum intulin level.When ethanol was followed by l.V.glucose load, an exagerated insulin response to glucose was observed.The potentiated insulin response to glucose by ethanol was dose related.
I.V. ethanol caused a significant increase in serum GH level in the fasted dogs.This ethanol-induced GH raising effect progressed after the I.V. glucose load and was maintained for 2 hours with the smaller dose of ethanol(0.75 ml/Kg) and for 90 minutes with the larger dose 1.5 ml/Kg.