Liver glycogenolysis during exercise in adrenodemedullated male and female rats

Previous studies have shown that adrenodemedullation has no effect on the rate of liver glycogenolysis during exercise in male rats. Mature female rats have been reported to have a higher hepatic β-adrenergic receptor activity than do male rats of the same age. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of plasma epinephrine in stimulating liver glycogenolysis during exercise in female rats. Both male and female rats were adrenodemedullated or sham operated. Three weeks later rats were run for 60 min at 21 m/min up a 15% grade. The rate of liver glycogenolysis during exercise was not affected by adrenodemedullation in either female rats or male rats. Hepatic adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate increased to approximately the same extent in sham operated as in adrenodemedullated female rats during exercise. Adrenodemedullation caused a significant reduction in the amount of glycogen utilized by the soleus muscle and in the degree of hyperglycemia during exercise. We conclude that epinephrine is unessential for stimulation of liver glycogenolysis during exercise in either male or female rats.