Catecholaminotropic effects of catecholamines in a teleost fish, Anguilla rostrata.

Injections of physiological and supraphysiological doses of epinephrine (E) into cardiac-cannulated eels cause a dose-related increase of plasma dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) within 3 min. Likewise, both exogenous DA and NE increase the plasma titers of the respective other two catecholamines (CAs). The baseline titers of NE and E are closely correlated. Lack of a correlation of the baseline titers of NE and E with that of DA appears to be due to a faster disappearance rate of DA from the circulation. E is strongly hyperglycemic, and the weaker glycemic action of NE may be mediated via E release. The effects of E seem to depend on a spurt-like increase rather than its titer per se. The ability of the eel to cope with very fast, excessive increases of plasma CAs raises the question of the underlying mechanisms.