Activation of glycogenolysis and norepinephrine overflow in the perfused rat liver during repetitive perivascular nerve stimulation.

During in situ perfusion of rat liver stimulation of nerve bundles around hepatic artery and portal vein resulted in an increase of glucose output, a switch from lactate uptake to output and in a decrease of portal flow. These effects remained essentially the same during 3 stimulation periods at 20 min intervals; norepinephrine overflow, however, was strongly decreased during the second and third period. The metabolic and hemodynamic effects were not correlated to norepinephrine overflow during repetitive stimulations and during stimulations in the presence of norepinephrine, phentolamine, propranolol or desipramine.