Contribution of adrenergic nerves and the adrenals to 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse.

The contribution of the adrenergic nerves and the adrenals to the increase in plasma levels of insulin, glucagon, and glucose that occurs in response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) was investigated in the mouse. Chemical sympathectomy by 6-hydroxydopamine or adrenalectomy was performed 48 h before intravenous injection of 2-DG (500 mg/kg). In controls, 2-DG increased the plasma levels of insulin, glucagon, and glucose (p less than 0.001). The insulin response to 2-DG was potentiated by adrenalectomy (p less than 0.01), but not affected by chemical sympathectomy. This indicates that the adrenals, but not the adrenergic nerves, restrain the insulin response to 2-DG. In contrast, 2-DG-induced glucagon secretion was partially inhibited by both chemical sympathectomy and adrenalectomy (p less than 0.001). This suggests contribution of both the adrenals and the adrenergic nerves to the glucagon response to 2-DG. Similarly, 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia was inhibited by both adrenalectomy (p less than 0.001) and by chemical sympathectomy (p less than 0.01). We conclude that, in the mouse, 2-DG activates the sympathetic nerves and the adrenals. This activation induces an inhibitory action on insulin secretion, exerted by the adrenals, and a stimulatory action on glucagon secretion, exerted by both the adrenergic nerves and the adrenals.