Metabolic alterations following chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine in the rat.
Until recently the role of the sympathetic nervous system on intermediary metabolism has been difficult to study because of the lack of efficient methods of producing generalized sympathectomy. Various metabolic parameters were measured 24 hr, 72 hr, and 1 week after chemical sympathectomy produced by a single intravenous injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (100 mg/kg) in rats. All animals were fasted 16 hr previous to all measurements. A marked increase was found in blood glucose levels in 6-OH-DA-treated animals. Serum free fatty acids (FFA) were 2 1/2 times higher 24 hr after sympathectomy than in control animals, but returned to normal values thereafter. The glycogen content of the liver was 10 times greater in treated animals 24 hr after 6-OH-DA, whereas cardiac glycogen was more than doubled 72 hr after sympathectomy. In contrast, glycogen content of skeletal muscle was only slightly but insignificantly increased. Immunoreactive insulin levels were also increased by 70 percent in sympathectomized animals after 24 hr, but returned to normal values thereafter. These results indicate an important alteration of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism after chemical sympathectomy, thus supporting a role of the sympathetic nervous system in their regulation.
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000502:physiology; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013562:Sympathectomy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D007328:Insulin; D007773:Lactates; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D014280:Triglycerides; D012965:Sodium Chloride