The nature of the epinephrine-induced hyperlipidemia in dogs and its modification by glucose

• Main Authors: Eleazar Shafrir, Karl E. Sussman, Daniel Steinberg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1959-10-01
• Series: Journal of Lipid Research
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002222752039101X

Dogs receiving subcutaneous epinephrine in oil (1 mg. per kg.) showed a prompt but transient elevation in serum free fatty acids (FFA) and a delayed %-hour elevation of serum lipoproteins. On daily injections of epinephrine for 6 to 8 days the serum cholesterol rose to 91 per cent above control values and the phospholipid 53 per cent. The triglyceride response was smaller and quite variable. Little change was found in the d < 1.019 lipoprotein, a three to eightfold increase in the d = 1.019 to 1.063 fraction and a 15 to 41 per cent increase in the d = 1.063 to 121 fraction. Epinephrine prolonged alimentary lipidemia but did not inhibit disappearance of intravenously infused chylomicrons. By prior and concomitant administration of glucose the FFA elevation after epinephrine was prevented. Insulin alone also blocked the epinephrine-induced FFA response without parallel hyperglycemia, indicating that availability of glucose for effective tissue utilization rather than hyperglycemia per se controls the release of FFA. Despite the block in the FFA response to epinephrine by either glucose or insulin, there was a definite elevation of serum cholesterol and phospholipids at 24 hours, suggesting an at least partially independent lipoprotein mobilizing action of the hormone. The relation of these findings to stress-induced hypercholesterolemia is considered.