In vivo and in vitro manifestations of adrenergic blockade in Bordetella pertussis-vaccinated mice.

The in vivo metabolic events which follow the administration of epinephrine, norepinephrine, or isoproterenol were examined in normal, Bordetella pertussis-vaccinated, and alpha and beta adrenergically blocked mice. The normal hyperglycemic response to epinephrine was suppressed in all experimental groups. The pertussis-sensitized and beta-blocked animals produced similar split patterns of altered response not duplicated by the alpha-blocking compounds. Those catecholamines that normally increase free fatty acids and lactic acid in the circulation failed to do so in the pertussis-sensitized and beta-blocked animals; the inhibition of free fatty acid mobilization was also demonstrated with adipose tissue incubated in vitro. An extract of the pertussis organism added to incubation media prevented the catecholamine-induced free fatty acid response. The epinephrine-stabilizing effect of bovine serum albumin (Cohn-fraction V) was observed. The results of these studies further emphasize a correlation between pertussis-sensitized and beta-adrenergically blocked mice.