Metabolic effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline in man: studies with somatostatin

The metabolic responses to infusion of adrenaline (6 micrograms/min) and of noradrenaline (5 micrograms/min) for 120 minutes have each been studied in five normal males with and without concurrent somatostatin (250 micrograms/h). Adrenaline induced marked and sustained hyperglycaemia (maximal blood glucose at 75 min, 9.0 +/- 0.4 mmol/l) while noradrenaline induced only a mild and transient blood glucose rise. Blood lactate was elevated by adrenaline (2.57 +/- 0.47 mmol/l with adrenaline, 0.62 +/- 0.06 mmol/l with saline at 120 min, p less than 0.02). Pyruvate levels rose proportionately less so that the circulating lactate:pyruvate ratio was increased (16.6 +/- 1.3 with adrenaline, 11.4 +/- 0.9 with saline at 120 min, p less than 0.05). Lactate and pyruvate levels were unaffected by noradrenaline. Both catecholamines increased circulating non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and glycerol to peak at 30 min, while maximal 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were achieved at 50 min (0.26 +/- 0.07 mmol/l with adrenaline; 0.23 +/- 0.06 mmol/l with noradrenaline; 0.03 +/- 0.01 mol/l with saline, both p less than 0.05). Insulin levels were partially suppressed by noradrenaline, while a small rise in circulating insulin was observed with adrenaline which was also associated with a large rebound rise in insulin secretion on cessation of the infusion. Mild and transient hyperglucagonaemia was observed with adrenaline while stimulation of glucagon secretion was more sustained with noradrenaline. Somatostatin suppressed insulin, glucagon and growth hormone secretion and both magnified and prolonged the hyperglycaemic effect of adrenaline (maximal at 105 min, 11.3 +/- 0.5 mmol/l, p less than 0.01 versus adrenaline alone).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)