Effect of ethanol on adrenaline-stimulated glucose uptake in rat white adipose tissue

The effect of ethanol on adrenaline-stimulated glucose uptake by rat white adipose tissue has been examined in vitro. Ethanol (3%) inhibited the stimulatory effect of adrenaline on glucose uptake whereas it failed to inhibit the effect of adrenaline on free fatty acid production. Addition of calcium (12.5 mM) to the incubation medium restored adrenaline's effect on glucose uptake. Addition of propranolol also restored the effect of adrenaline inhibited by ethanol. Ethanol did not inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These results suggest that ethanol modifies the coupling of the adrenoceptor to the glucose transport system in adipose tissue that is stimulated by adrenaline.