Comparison of adrenaline-induced hyper- and hypoglycaemia by histological and biochemical investigation

Chronic treatment of rats by subcutaneously implanted A-depot capsules lead through a ca. 12 h hyperglycaemia to hypoglycaemia at 18 h p.o. SDH and G-6-Phase activities in the liver were compared during hyper- and hypoglycaemia using both histochemical and biochemical methods. The results show high triglyceride-contents, lack of glycogen and high G-6-Pase activities in the livers of animals during both hyper- and hypoglycaemia. Striking differences were found concerning SDH-activities: While biochemical measurements show enhanced activities during hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemic values remain in the "normal" range. Nevertheless histochemical investigations show an amazing re-distribution of SDH-activities from the periportal areas towards the lobule centre. Therefore we think, that biochemical and histochemical methods should be combined to unveil such pseudonormalities. Further, this re-distribution shows the ability of the liver to cope with damage by shifting important processes away from fat-infiltrated areas.