Epinephrine and Insulin Effect on Potassium Mobilization: Relationship of Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism

Abstract

The effects of epinephrine and of insulin pretreatment on liver lipid partition, glycogen, water and electrolytes content, and certain plasma constituents were compared in adrenalectomized-alloxanized groups of rats given a standard amount of glucose infusion. A similar pattern of changes in liver lipid partition was found in both pretreated groups, compared to the non-pretreated controls. An increased liver K and lowered plasma K content was found in both pretreated groups. Differences in liver glycogen content and glycemic level in the pretreated groups, however, were sufficiently notable to suggest that common resultant effects on K mobilization were not produced by the same mechanism of action of both hormones.