The influence of hypothyroidism on the adrenergic stimulation of glycogenolysis in perfused rat liver

Abstract

The ability of noradrenaline (1 μM), phenylephrine (10 μM), and isoproterenol (1 μM) to stimulate glycogenolysis in euthyroid and hypothyroid perfused rat livers was investigated. It was found that hypothyroidism severely impaired α-receptor-mediated (noradrenaline, phenylephrine) glucose release. The initial Ca 2+ efflux and K + influx induced by these agonists in the euthyroid control group were almost totally absent in the hypothyroid group, while glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the hypothyroid rat livers was markedly lower than in the controls after infusing noradrenaline for 1 min. Diminished Ca 2+ efflux (and possibly diminished K + influx) is likely to play a role in the large impairment in the action of noradrenaline or phenylephrine on glycogenolysis in the perfused hypothyroid rat liver. After prolonged stimulation (15 min) with noradrenaline, however, the phosphorylase a activity in the hypothyroid and euthyroid groups did not differ significantly. This was accompanied by Ca 2+ influx in the hypothyroid livers, probably facilitated by a β-adrenergic effect of noradrenaline in this group. Hypothyroidism potentiated the effect of isoproterenol on glycogenolysis. The glucose 6-phosphate content in the hypothyroid rat livers was markedly higher than in the euthyroid group after stimulation by noradrenaline or isoproterenol.