The effect of epinephrine on the in vivo concentration of erythrocyte glycolytic intermediates.

Abstract

SummaryErythrocyte adenosine triphos-phate (ATP) concentration was found to increase in adult rhesus monkeys which have been injected with 3.5 mg of epinephrine. The average increase in red cell ATP concentration was 19.5% (significant at the 1% probability level). Epinephrine injection also increased the concentration of the early red cell glycolytic intermediates, glucose 6-phosphate (G6P), fructose 6-phos-phate (F6P), and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP). Respiratory alkalosis, which might have been induced by the epinephrine, is not responsible for the glycolytic changes. This effect of epinephrine on rhesus red cell glycolysis is compatible with an in vivo stimulation of red cell hexokinase by epinephrine or some substance elicited by epinephrine and suggests the possibility that such a stimulation may have a physiologic role in the mammalian erythrocyte.The authors wish to thank John A. Faulkner and Daniel H. Ringler for their help in the experiments involving the injection of monkeys with epinephr...