Effect of 2-deoxyglucose on glucose turnover in normal and adrenalectomized dogs

Abstract

C¹⁴ glucose, administered intravenously by a priming injection along with a continuous infusion, was used to measure the effects of 2-deoxyglucose infusion on glucose production and glucose uptake in unanesthetized normal or adrenalectomized dogs. Infusion of 2-deoxyglucose, 200 mg/kg in 30 min, produced a marked hyperglycemia in intact dogs. The development of the hyperglycemia was accompanied by an increase in glucose production. The over-all glucose uptake failed to increase above values in control state despite the hyperglycemia, thus reflecting a relative inhibition of glucose uptake. Infusion of 2-deoxyglucose did not diminish the effectiveness of administered insulin to increase glucose uptake, nor did it impair the disposition of a glucose load. Pretreatment of normal dogs with the adrenergic blocking agent, dihydroergotamine, prevented the usual hyperglycemia induced by 2-deoxyglucose. Similarly in the adrenalectomized dog, maintained on deoxycorticosterone acetate and cortisol, infusion of 2-deoxyglucose failed to produce hyperglycemia, or to increase glucose production, or alter glucose uptake. The possible role of epinephrine as the mediator of the effects of 2-deoxyglucose in the intact animal is discussed.