Effects of Epinephrine on Metabolism of Glucose of Normal Dogs

¹ From the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Utah College of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah

Following the intravenous administration of a tracer dose of C¹⁴ glucose, nonradioactive glucose was infused in normal, anesthetized dogs over a 2-hour period with and without the concomitant administration of epinephrine. Blood samples were obtained from the portal vein, hepatic vein, femoral artery and femoral vein at various periods after the start of the infusion. The blood glucose concentration was higher in the epinephrine-treated animals than in the controls and blood glucose radioactivity remained at consistently higher levels in the former group. Blood glucose specific activity, however, dropped faster and attained lower values in the controls. Blood lactate levels were higher in the epinephrine-treated animals. The individual and cumulative specific activities of expired CO₂ were appreciably lower in the epinephrine-treated group. The results are interpreted as demonstrating a dual effect of epinephrine; decrease in glucose uptake by tissues and an increase in lactate entry into the blood.