EFFECT OF ADRENALIN ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND PANCREATIC MORPHOLOGY

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Abstract
A study was conducted on the effect of adrenalin with or without cortisone on blood glucose and on pancreatic morphology of rabbits. In acute experiments the administration of 0.25 mg. of adrenalin produced a much greater rise in blood sugar in animals pretreated with 4 mg./ kg. of cortisone acetate for 7 days than in controls. With 1 mg. adrenalin this hyperglycemia potentiating effect of cortisone was less marked. In chronic experiments 2 mg. of adrenalin in oil were administered subcutaneously 3 times daily at 8 hour intervals either alone or together with 1 mg./kg. daily of cortisone acetate intramuscularly for up to 106 days. Adrenalin alone caused intermittent hyperglycemia with peaks reaching as high as 480 mg.%. Adrenalin injected subcutaneously with cortisone produced daily intermittent hyperglycemia with maximal blood sugar levels rising up to 851 mg.%. The failure of adrenalin with cortisone to produce sustained hyperglycemia as was previously found with glucagon-cortisone treatment is noteworthy since both substances theoretically increase blood sugar by activating phosphorylase. Morphologically, in most instances after adrenalin plus cortisone treatment, there was [beta] cell degranulation and glycogen infiltration of duct epithelium. In animals treated for prolonged periods there was islet hyperplasia and neogenesis of [beta] cells from duct epithelium could be traced. These findings are thought to represent a reaction to hyperglycemia which allows for increased insulinogenesis.