Hepatic microvascular regulatory mechanisms. X. Effects of alpha-one or -two adrenoceptor blockade on glucoregulation in normotensive endotoxic rats with optimal perfusion and flowrates.

Circulating-blood glucose, hepatic glycogen distribution, and the glycogen contents of liver and skeletal muscle, were determined for 60 min in 31 fed and anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. These rats received an endoportal infusion of 15 mg per kg b.w. E. coli endotoxin (026:B6) or of sterile saline solution as a control. Either substance was given intravenously at 9:30 a.m. following an intraperitoneal injection at 9:00 a.m. of 0.1 mg per kg b.w. prazosin or 0.3 mg per kg b.w. yohimbine or of the carrier, distilled water. Infused endotoxin elevated blood glucose without affecting hepatic glycogen distribution and total glycogen contents of liver and skeletal muscle when compared to control. Prazosin inhibited endotoxin-induced hyperglycemia, and prazosin plus endotoxin provoked centrilobular glycogen depletion and decreased total hepatic glycogen content. However, no significant alteration in the glycogen content of skeletal muscle accompanied blockade of glucogenesis. Prazosin administered by itself produced no changes in hepatic and muscle glycogen. Although yohimbine blocked endotoxin-induced hyperglycemia, yohimbine, or yohimbine plus endotoxin, produced no significant change in the glycogen contents of liver and skeletal muscle. Blockade in the latter case was associated with some depletion of glycogen in hepatocytes dispersed randomly throughout the unit lobule and in cells located centrivenously. These results suggested that endotoxin-induced hyperglycemia is evoked by activation of alpha-1 and -2 adrenergic receptors. Since no detectible change in hepatic glycogen distribution and in the contents of liver and muscle glycogen accompanied glucogenesis, glycogen catabolism and deposition are postulated to proceed simultaneously and at equivalent rates by 60 min following the experimental induction of endotoxemia. Blockade of alpha (one or two) adrenoceptors is hypothesized to inhibit endotoxin-induced hyperglycemia by facilitating glucose utilization and not by stimulating glycogenesis or by antagonizing glycogenolysis in the liver or skeletal muscle.