Short-term stressor effects of reserpine.

The effects of reserpine on plasma glucose, FFA and cholesterol and on adrenal cholesterol were determined in 1-and 21-d-old chicks over a 24-h period. 2. Irrespective of age, reserpinised chicks became hyperglycaemic and hypocholesteraemic, their stores of adrenal cholesterol were depleted and the mobilisation of the lipid was impaired. The response of the older bird was quantitatively larger than that of the younger bird. 3. Propranolol prevented the increase in plasma glucose concentration seen 1 h after reserpine but it did not affect subsequent changes. 4. It is concluded that reserpine acts as a stressor and it is shown that its effects have not been entirely overcome after 24 h.