Epinephrine increases tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in human skeletal muscle

The effects of epinephrine (E) and insulin infusions on the contents of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (TCAI), adenine nucleotides and their catabolites, and amino acids in skeletal muscle have been investigated. Eight men were studied on two separate occasions: 1) during 120 min of euglycemic hyperinsulinemia (UH, approximately 5 mM; 40 mU.m-2.min-1) and 2) during UH while E was infused (UHE, 0.05 microgram.kg-1.min-1). Biopsies were taken from the quadriceps femoris muscle before and after each clamp. The sum of citrate, malate, and fumarate in muscle did not change significantly during UH (P greater than 0.05) but doubled during UHE (P less than 0.001). There were no significant changes in any of the adenine nucleotides, their catabolites (including inosine monophosphate), or aspartate during UH and UHE (P greater than 0.05); nor were there any significant changes in pyruvate or alanine contents during UH (P greater than 0.05). On the other hand, there were significant increases in pyruvate and alanine contents during UHE (P less than 0.01 and 0.05, respectively), suggesting that there was increased production of 2-oxoglutarate (a TCAI) via the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) reaction. It is concluded that E infusion increases the contents of TCAI in human skeletal muscle, and it is likely that at least part of the increase is attributable to increased flux through the ALT reaction.