Endocrine activation and altered muscle metabolism after hemorrhagic shock

Studies were conducted to examine glucose and amino acid metabolism by skeletal muscle isolated from rhesus monkeys before and sequentially after an episode of resuscitated hemorrhagic shock. After shock and reinfusion, the tissue exhibited decreased effect of insulin on glucose utilization increased leucine oxidation, and a reduced rate of leucine incorporation into protein. These changes were observed 15 min after reinfusion and persisted in part for at least 3 days. All of the observed abnormalities were more pronounced 24 h after shock and reinfusion than 15 min after and returned to normal by 2-4 wk. The shock-induced metabolic abnormalities in skeletal muscle occurred in spite of prevention of shock-induced adrenal steroid and catecholamine secretion and of changes in blood insulin concentration using adrenalectomized-streptozotocin diabetic monkeys receiving replacement cortisol and insulin infusions. This study thus demonstrated that hemorrhagic shock in rhesus monkeys was followed by insulin resistance plus abnormalities of glucose and amino acid metabolism by skeletal muscle that were not dependent on the concurrent changes in plasma levels of adrenal steroids or catecholamines or on altered circulating insulin levels associated with shock.