Reduced hyperglycemic action of glucagon in cold-acclimated rats, especially in venous drainage from brown adipose tissue.

Glucagon infusion at a rate of 2 microgram/min for 30 min into warm-acclimated rats induced a marked rise of glucose concentration in venous blood both in the external jugular vein and in Sulzer's vein from the interscapular brown adipose tissue. In cold-acclimated rats the increase in the concentration of glucose was significantly reduced in the former vein and abolished in the latter one. These results suggest an enhanced use of glucose in the brown adipose tissue in cold-acclimated animals under the influence of glucagon.