Bordetella pertussis does not induce β-adrenergic blockade

Bordetella pertussis organisms induce histamine sensitivity and diminish the normal hyperglycemic response to epinephrine in experimental animals. These effects have been attributed to β-adrenergic blockade. However, under conditions in which the decrease in epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia after B. pertussis administration was demonstrable, there was no change in rat reticulocyte β-adrenergic receptor number or affinity measured by iodohydroxybenzylpindolol binding or in isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Therefore, there was no generalized β-adrenergic blockade induced by B. pertussis. The observed effects can be explained by the hypersecretion of insulin resulting from B. pertussis administration.