Use of 2-Deoxy-d-glucose in Studying the Mechanism of Lipid Mobilization

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Abstract
To evaluate the relative role of endogenous epinephrine and growth hormone (GH) in regulating free fatty acid (FFA) mobilization in man, infusions of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG), an agent which will increase the output of these hormones, were given to normal subjects and those with various endocrine disorders. The initial phase of lipid mobilization after administration of 2-DG correlated with the relative output of epinephrine in normal subjects. Whereas the FFA increase was marked in the normal subjects, there was much less of a rise in the addisonian and adrenalectomized subjects and one hypopituitary subject who correspondingly had a diminished epinephrine response. No correlation was noted with the serum growth hormone response, which was normal in the addisonian subjects. Despite a urinary epinephrine output similar to normals, obese subjects had an impaired FFA response to 2-DG. The presence of high basal insulin levels in obesity and defective GH response to 2-DG may explain the subjects' inability to mobilize FFA as readily as normal subjects. A variability of FFA response to 2-DG administration was seen in the acromegalic subjects. Although their urinary epinephrine output was similar to that seen in the normal group, their GH response was variable and less consistent. Elevated levels of basal insulin may also be important in these cases in inhibiting the peripheral lipolytic action of GH. Infusion of 2-DG has proved useful in evaluating the effect of the output of endogenous epinephrine and GH in inducing lipolysis in various endocrine disorders.