Inhibition of paracrine angiotensin‐converting enzyme <i>in vivo</i>: effects on interstitial glucose and lactate concentrations in human skeletal muscle

Abstract

Microdialysis was used to selectively assess the effect of the paracrine renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on interstitial glucose and lactate concentration profiles in skeletal muscle of healthy volunteers (n = 8) during basal and insulin-stimulated conditions. Paracrine RAS was selectively inhibited by local retrodialysis with enalaprilate. Under basal conditions, local administration of enalaprilate (2 micrograms mL-1) increased interstitial dialysate glucose concentration from 0.71 +/- 0.14 mmol L-1 to 0.84 +/- 0.14 mmol L-1 and decreased the serum interstitial gradient (SIGglu) compared with baseline (P < 0.02). Under clamp conditions, enalaprilate, even at the lowest concentration (0.02 microgram mL-1), increased interstitial dialysate glucose concentration from 0.77 +/- 0.11 mmol L-1 to 1.02 +/- 0.09 mmol L-1 and decreased SIGglu compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Interstitial lactate concentrations slightly increased during basal as well as during clamp conditions (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). Selective inhibition of paracrine muscle angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) increases interstitial glucose and lactate concentrations and decreases SIGglu in muscle by facilitating transcapillary glucose transport. This effect is more pronounced during hyperinsulinaemia and may be of clinical relevance in diabetic patients treated with therapeutic doses of enalapril.