Effects of aging and endotoxin on hepatic glucocorticoid action and glucose metabolism in mice.

Hepatic binding of [3H] dexamethasone, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity, glycogen levels, and plasma glucose and corticosterone concentrations were measured in young, mature, and old mice given either endotoxin or vehicle. Endotoxin treatment differentially lowered plasma glucose concentration, hepatic glycogen content, PEPCK activity and specifically bound [3H] dexamethasone, but increased plasma corticosterone concentration by a magnitude dependent upon the age of the animal.