Adrenaline reactivation of muscle phosphorylase after deactivation during phasic contractile activity.

The increase in % phosphorylase a associated with muscle contraction is reversed after a few minutes despite continued contractile activity. The present study was undertaken to determine whether adrenaline can activate phosphorylase after deactivation has occurred during prolonged stimulation of contraction. We found that adrenaline reactivates phosphorylase and glycogenolysis in rat fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles that have been stimulated to contract for 15 min. The reactivation of glycogenolysis by adrenaline could have importance in fight-or-flight situations that call for an increase in exercise intensity.