Stress increases plasma enzyme activity in rats: differential effects of adrenergic and cholinergic blockades

Plasma creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities significantly increased in rats immersed in 23 degrees C water for 6 hr after restraint (water immersion stress). The stress-induced rises in the four enzymes were significantly prevented by the intraperitoneal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (80 mg/kg), propranolol (1 and 10 mg/kg) or timolol (1 and 10 mg/kg) but not by phentolamine (0.1-10 mg/kg) and atropine (0.1-10 mg/kg). The stress also significantly increased plasma urea nitrogen and glucose levels; however, neither propranolol (0.1-10 mg/kg) nor timolol (0.1-10 mg/kg) did affect these levels. On the other hand, 6-hydroxydopamine (80 mg/kg) and phentolamine (10 mg/kg) slightly but significantly prevented the increase in plasma urea nitrogen level, and the stress-induced hyperglycemia was significantly prevented by either phentolamine (10 mg/kg) or atropine (1 and 10 mg/kg). Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were also increased significantly by the stress, and the norepinephrine response was suppressed significantly by 6-hydroxydopamine. In conclusion, excessive peripheral sympathetic activity possibly plays an important role in the water immersion stress-induced increases in the plasma enzymes activity primarily via beta-adrenoceptors, whereas alpha-adrenoceptors and the cholinergic nerves might be involved in the stress-induced increases in plasma urea nitrogen and glucose levels.