[Experimental studies on the effects of administration of catecholamines on fat metabolism]

Metabolism of fat was studied in Sprague-Dowley rats receiving catecholamines as an experimental model of "stressed condition". These rats were fed with intravenous hyperalimentation with glucose only (G-group) or glucose and fat (F-group). Changes in body weight, cumulative nitrogen balance, blood sugar, serum IRI, free fatty acid, and triglyceride content of the liver were determined before and after five days intravenous hyperalimentation. Animals receiving intravenous hyperalimentation but no catecholamines were also subjected to the studies as control group. The following results were obtained from the present studies: In control group, G-group gained much more body weight and spared much more nitrogen than F-group. In catecholamine receiving groups, there was no significant difference of changes in body weight and cumulative nitrogen balance between G-group and F-group. In catecholamine receiving group, triglyceride content of the liver tissue was higher in G-group than in F-group, whereas triglyceride content of the liver tissue in control group was lower in G-group than in F-group. There was a positive correlation between the accumulation of triglyceride in the liver tissue and blood sugar level, or serum IRI level. A negative correlation was found between the accumulation of triglyceride in the liver tissue and plasma free fatty acid level. These results suggest that "stressed condition" induced by the administration of catecholamines enhanced the utilization of fat as an energy source without producing fatty liver.