Effect of epinephrine on glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in conscious overnight-fasted dogs

The aim of this study was to assess the importance of epinephrine as a gluconeogenic hormone in the conscious 18-h-fasted dog. Glucose production ([3H]glucose turnover) and gluconeogenesis [( 14C]alanine conversion to [14C]glucose; and transhepatic gluconeogenic substrate balances) were assessed during epinephrine infusion (0.04 microgram X kg-1 X min-1). Insulin and glucagon were fixed at basal levels (13 +/- 1 microU/ml and 138 +/- 16 pg/ml, respectively) using a pancreatic clamp [somatostatin (0.8 microgram X kg-1 X min-1) plus intraportal insulin (233 microU X kg-1 X min-1) and glucagon (0.65 ng X kg-1 X min-1)]. Plasma epinephrine levels increased to 424 +/- 48 pg/ml. Glucose production increased rapidly (15 min) from 2.7 +/- 0.3 to 3.7 +/- 0.4 mg X kg-1 X min-1 (P less than 0.01) but then returned to base line (2 h). The plasma glucose level rose progressively from 115 +/- 16 to 160 +/- 16 mg/dl (P less than 0.01) at 3 h, whereas glucose clearance fell by 28% (P less than 0.05). Plasma alanine rose from 340 +/- 20 to 497 +/- 50 microM, and blood lactate increased from 640 +/- 135 to 1,910 +/- 241 microM. Net hepatic alanine and lactate uptake increased to maxima of 4.0 +/- 0.3 and 9.3 +/- 2.0 mumol X kg-1 X min-1, respectively. The conversion of alanine to glucose increased by a maximum of 163 +/- 56% (vs. 49 +/- 16% in controls not given epinephrine), whereas the efficiency with which the liver converted alanine to glucose rose by 84 +/- 27% (vs. 82 +/- 12% in controls not given epinephrine).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)