Preferential secretion of adrenaline or noradrenaline by the cat adrenal in vivo in response to different stimuli

Abstract

1 The concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal vein and the adrenal gland of the cat were studied in response to different stimuli leading to increased catecholamine (CA) secretion. 2 Haemorrhage and hypoglycaemia, but not acute exposure to cold or intravenous administration of cocaine, induced considerable increases in total catecholamine secretion. 3 The ratio of the concentration of adrenaline to noradrenaline in adrenal vein plasma during the control period was higher than the ratio in the adrenal gland itself. 4 Haemorrhage increased noradrenaline secretion considerably more than adrenaline secretion so that the ratio of the concentration of adrenaline to noradrenaline in adrenal vein plasma was significantly lower than in the adrenal gland itself. 5 Hypoglycaemia induced by insulin increased catecholamine secretion, with the adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio significantly higher than in the adrenal gland itself. 6 Hypothermia resulted in a fall of the initial high ratio of adrenaline to noradrenaline, to a value similar to that in the adrenal gland. 7 Neither cocaine nor changes in adrenal plasma flow affected the adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio in adrenal vein blood. 8 It is concluded that preferential release from the adrenal gland of either adrenaline or noradrenaline is possible in vivo in response to different stimuli.