Comparison of metabolic effect of ammonia and adrenaline infusions in sheep

Intravenous infusions of ammonium chloride (62.3 mumol.kg-1.min-1) for 30 min caused a significant increase in blood glucose, lactate, pyruvate and free fatty acid (FFA) levels. A similar effect was also observed during infusion of adrenaline. Propanolol--a beta-receptor blocking agent--completely prevented the rise of blood pyruvate and lactate after adrenaline when 8.3 microgram.kg-1.min-1 of propranolol were infused, but not after NH4Cl administration. Lipolytic actions of adrenaline were completely prevented but that of NH4Cl was only significantly diminished by blockade of beta-receptors with propranolol. It was concluded that the influence of ammonium ions on blood lactate and pyruvate and FFA was not entirely mediated by adrenaline.