Glucocorticoid effect on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in the endotoxin-shocked monkey.

This study investigated the effect of glucocorticoid treatment on survival, on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism, and on levels of hepatic adenine nucleotides in the endotoxin-shocked monkey. Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DMP) administered either at the time of endotoxin challenge or up to 90 minutes afterward significantly increased the survival rates. Endotoxin administered alone caused profound hypoglycemia and lactic-acidemia, which were alleviated by the administration of DMP. Endotoxin administered alone significantly decreased the hepatic levels of glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, phospho-enolpyruvate, adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and glycogen; and it significantly increased the hepatic levels of fructose-1,6-diphosphate, lactate, and adenosine mono-phosphate. The administration of DMP at the time of endotoxin challenge maintained the levels of all these metabolites at or near the control levels.