A COMPARISON OF THE GLYCOGENOLYTIC RESPONSES TO EPINEPHRIN ADMINISTERED BY THE SUBCUTANEOUS AND INTRAVENOUS ROUTES

Abstract

The hyper-glycemic response to subcutaneous epinephrin in the rabbit increases with the dose in a way that corresponds roughly with the pressor response. With the possible exception of very small doses the response to intravenous epinephrin is independent of the dose. The same independence is found to hold when the frog''s liver is perfused. The usual explanation for the failure of intravenous doses of epinephrin to provoke as great a hyperglycemic response as subcutaneous doses based on vasoconstrictor effect is shown to be based on improbable assumptions, and it is suggested that duration of stimulation rather than intensity is the deciding factor. Adrenalin-insulin antagonism is discussed in the light of the antagonism between choline and atropine.