Glycogen storage in rat liver and skeletal muscle during continuous infusion of adrenalin. II. Effect of exogenous insulin.

In association with trauma the storage of glycogen, especially in skeletal muscle, is reduced. An increased release of adrenalin may be one of the causes of this phenomenon. In this study the effect of exogenously supplied adrenalin (0.5 mug/kg/min) on the storage of glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscle during a standardized infusion of glucose was studied in rats. A significant reduction of the glycogen storage in the liver was recorded. In the muscle the glycogen storage was practically eliminated. Simultaneous determinations of the serum insulin concentration showed very low insulin levels on administration of adrenalin, indicating a blockade of the insulin release in the beta-cells. When insulin was given at the same time the glycogen storage was almost completely normalized. This suggests that the deficiency of circulating insulin occurring on administration of adrenalin may be responsible for the lack of glycogen storage in the muscle.