Glycemic response to stress stimulation by ether exposure in adrenalectomized rats

Stress was induced by short-term ether exposure (2 min) and tail vein puncture in normal (SO), adrenodemedullated (ADM), and adrenalectomized (ADR) rats. In ADM and SO rats stress provoked a significant hyperglycemic response with no change in plasma insulin levels. In ADR rats, on the other hand, the hyperglycemic response was not present. Actually, a significant rapid decrease in blood glucose, plasma insulin and hepatic glycogen content was observed. When the hypoglycemic effect of stress was prevented by glucose injection into ADR rats the decrease in plasma insulin and hepatic glycogen was not observed. The data suggest that the fall in plasma insulin and hepatic glycogen content observed in ADR animals result from an activation of the sympathetic nervous system induced by the decrease in blood glucose.