title: Beta-adrenergic control of plasma glucose and free fatty acid levels in the air-breathing African catfish Clarias gariepinus Burchell 1822.
abstract: In several water-breathing fish species, beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation by noradrenaline leads to a decrease in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels, as opposed to an increase in air-breathing mammals. We hypothesised that this change in adrenergic control is related to the mode of breathing. Therefore, cannulated air-breathing African catfish were infused for 90 min with noradrenaline or with the nonselective beta-agonist, isoprenaline. To identify the receptor type involved, a bolus of either a selective beta1-antagonist (atenolol) or a selective beta2-antagonist (ICI 118,551) was injected 15 min prior to the isoprenaline infusion. Both noradrenaline and isoprenaline led to an expected rise in glucose concentration. Isoprenaline combined with both the beta1- and beta2-antagonist led to higher glucose concentrations than isoprenaline alone. This could indicate the presence of a stimulatory beta-adrenoceptor different from beta1 and beta2-adrenoceptors; these two receptors thus seemed to mediate a reduction in plasma glucose concentration. Both noradrenaline and isoprenaline led to a significant decrease in FFA concentration. Whereas the beta1-antagonist had no effect, the beta2-antagonist reduced the decrease in FFA concentration, indicating the involvement of beta2-adrenoceptors. It is concluded that the air-breathing African catfish reflects water-breathing fish in the adrenergic control of plasma FFA and glucose levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands. heeswijk@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl
authors.forename: Johannes C F
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Heeswijk
authors.forename: Gerjanne J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Vianen
authors.forename: Guido E E J M
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: van den Thillart
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaagsma
mesh_terms: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002397:Catfishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D011412:Propanolamines; C026777:ICI 118551; D001262:Atenolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D010100:Oxygen; D009638:Norepinephrine