Effect of repeated administration of 2-deoxy- d-glucose or insulin on catechol- amine-synthesizing enzymes in rat adrenals

Abstract

One dose of either 2-deoxy- d-glucose (2DG) or insulin does not alter significantly enzymes involved in the synthesis of adrenal catecholamines. However, repeated doses of 2DG (500 mg/kg) or insulin (10 units of Iletin/kg) injected daily into male rats produce striking changes in levels of these enzymes. Six hr after the last of seven daily injections of either agent, there was significant increase of adrenal weight and marked rise of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-B-hydroxylase. Adrenal phenylethanolamine- N-methyl transferase was increased only slightly by single or repeated doses of 2DG or insulin but attained statistical significance only after repeated doses of insulin. 2DG apparently was a greater stimulus for epinephrine secretion than insulin since a marked lowering of adrenal epinephrine was induced by 2DG but not by insulin.