Evidence for centers in the central nervous system that regulate fat mobilization in dogs.

Infusions of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) into intact, adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized-hypophysectomized dogs caused increases in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels which could be reversed by infusing hexamethonium, or prevented by epidural anesthesia or destruction of the thoracic spinal cord. Similar infusions of 2-DG were given to adrenalectomized dogs after transection of the spinal cord. Lesions between C 4 and T 7 prevented the increase in FFA while lesions at T 8 or C 2-3 did not. These results indicate that inhibition of glucose metabolism by 2-DG causes an increase in plasma FFA by a pathway involving the sympathetic nervous system and that there are centers regulating this activity in the cervical portion of the spinal cord.