Effect of adrenal demedullation and (or) physical training on glucose tolerance in the rat

Physical training increases insulin sensitivity by mechanisms not yet fully understood. Because exercise also modulates adrenergic system activity, the present study was designed to ascertain whether the improved glucose homeostasis observed in trained rats is influenced by epinephrine secretion from the adrenal medullae. Male Wistar rats previously submitted to adrenal demedullation or sham operated were kept sedentary or trained on a treadmill over a 10-week period. An intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was done 64 h after the last bout of exercise. Basal plasma glucose levels were reduced by physical training (p < 0.005) and by adrenal demedullation (p < 0.001). Adrenodemedullated rats had lower (p < 0.005) plasma glucose levels than sham-operated animals over the whole glucose tolerance curve. Trained animals had lower (p < 0.01) plasma glucose levels than sedentary rats throughout the IVGTT, except at 45 min. The glucose disappearance rate measured after the glucose bolus injection was increased by training (p < 0.05), whereas it was not modified by adrenal demedullation. Basal plasma insulin levels were reduced (p < 0.001) by physical training but unaffected by adrenal demedullation. During the IVGTT, adrenodemedullated rats had higher (p < 0.01) plasma insulin levels at 2, 4, and 6 min, whereas trained animals had lower (p < 0.05) plasma insulin levels throughout the test. Moreover, insulin in adrenodemedullated and trained rats had returned to basal levels at 30 min. The area under the curve for insulin was diminished by physical training (p < 0.001) but was not modified by adrenal demedullation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)