Effect of Adrenalin on Blood Fat.

Abstract

The results of the first series of a group of studies on fat metabolism have been presented in preliminary form. 1 The present communication contains the results of the 4 pilot experiments of a second, projected series of these studies. Samples of arterial blood were drawn from amytalized dogs, and the fat contents of the blood plasma were determined by the method of Stewart and White. 2

In experiment 1, 1/4 cc. of adrenalin chloride (Parke, Davis and Company) was injected subcutaneously every one quarter of an hour for 6 hours. Experiment 2 differed from 1 in that the injections of adrenalin were continued for 4 hours only. In experiments 3 and 4, adrenalin injections were also stopped at the fourth hour, but they were followed at that time by the subcutaneous injection of 5 units of insulin per kilo.

It will be observed in Table I that subcutaneous injections of adrenalin may give rise to lipemia. Apparently insulin overcame the lipemic action of adrenalin in experiment 3. It is generally known that insulin reduces the lipemia of diabetes. Rony and Ching 3 have shown that insulin has the same effect on post-prandial lipemia.