Effects of adrenalin on the conversion ratio of tryptophan to niacin in rats.

The administration of glycemia-affecting chemicals such as alloxan, streptozotocin, and 6-aminonicotinamide decreases the conversion ratio of tryptophan to niacin. Adrenalin is also known to increase the glucose level. For this reason, the effects of adrenalin on the conversion ratio were investigated. We found that the conversion ratio of tryptophan to niacin was reduced to half by the intraperitoneal injection of adrenalin at 75 micrograms/day/rat (body weight, about 250 g) every day for 7 days. Niacin decreases adrenalin-stimulated glycogenolysis via stimulating phosphodiesterase activity or depressing adenyl cyclase activity. Accordingly, in urgent need of energy, animals would have to decrease the concentration of niacin within the body.