Skip to main content
PMC home page
Postgraduate Medical Journal logoLink to Postgraduate Medical Journal
. 1969 Aug;45(526):545–549. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.45.526.545

Metabolic and tissue effects of prolonged catecholamine infusion

W K Eltringham, M E Jenny, A P Morgan
PMCID: PMC2466907  PMID: 5343584

Abstract

In recent years it has become clear that the free fatty acids of the plasma represent the major form of transport for lipid mobilized from the stored triglyceride in peripheral adipose tissue.

There is evidence that lipid mobilization is increased after trauma, burns and shock with depletion of the peripheral lipid stores and an increase in the circulating free fatty acids.

In this study lipid mobilization was induced in unanaesthetized dogs by continuous noradrenaline infusion at a rate of 1 μg/kg/min. A marked rise of the free fatty acids occurred and was associated with triglyceride deposition in tissues not normally the site of lipid storage. This change affected principally the liver, but to a lesser degree other organs including the lungs.

The possible significance of this lipid mobilization in the human setting is discussed.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AUJARD C. Influence d'une sécrétion prolongée de noradrénaline ou d'un séjour de longue durée à basse température, sur les lipides du foie chez le rat. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1953 Jun;147(11-12):965–968. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Allison S. P., Hinton P., Chamberlain M. J. Intravenous glucose-tolerance, insulin, and free-fatty-acid levels in burned patients. Lancet. 1968 Nov 23;2(7578):1113–1116. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91581-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Allison S. P., Prowse K., Chamberlain M. J. Failure of insulin response to glucose load during operation and after myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1967 Mar 4;1(7488):478–481. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(67)91097-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BRAGDON J. H., GORDON R. S., Jr Tissue distribution of C14 after the intravenous injection of labeled chylomicrons and unesterified fatty acids in the rat. J Clin Invest. 1958 Apr;37(4):574–578. doi: 10.1172/JCI103640. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. CARLSON L. A., EKELUND L. G. Splanchnic production and uptake of endogenous triglycerides in the fasting state in man. J Clin Invest. 1963 May;42:714–720. doi: 10.1172/JCI104763. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cahill G. F., Jr, Herrera M. G., Morgan A. P., Soeldner J. S., Steinke J., Levy P. L., Reichard G. A., Jr, Kipnis D. M. Hormone-fuel interrelationships during fasting. J Clin Invest. 1966 Nov;45(11):1751–1769. doi: 10.1172/JCI105481. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DARBY T. D., ALDINGER E. E., GADSDEN R. H., THROWER W. B. Effects of metabolic acidosis on ventricular isometric systolic tension and the response to epinephrine and levarterenol. Circ Res. 1960 Nov;8:1242–1253. doi: 10.1161/01.res.8.6.1242. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DOLE V. P. A relation between non-esterified fatty acids in plasma and the metabolism of glucose. J Clin Invest. 1956 Feb;35(2):150–154. doi: 10.1172/JCI103259. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. DOLE V. P., MEINERTZ H. Microdetermination of long-chain fatty acids in plasma and tissues. J Biol Chem. 1960 Sep;235:2595–2599. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. FEIGELSON E. B., PFAFF W. W., KARMEN A., STEINBERG D. The role of plasma free fatty acids in development of fatty liver. J Clin Invest. 1961 Dec;40:2171–2179. doi: 10.1172/JCI104443. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. FREDRICKSON D. S., HAVEL R. J. The metabolism of chylomicra. I. The removal of palmitic acid-1-C14 labeled chylomicra from dog plasma. J Clin Invest. 1956 Sep;35(9):1025–1032. doi: 10.1172/JCI103348. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. GILBERT R. P., HOHF R. HEMODYNAMIC BASIS OF NOREPINEPHRINE SHOCK. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1964 May;116:43–46. doi: 10.3181/00379727-116-29153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. GORDON R. S., Jr, CHERKES A. Unesterified fatty acid in human blood plasma. J Clin Invest. 1956 Feb;35(2):206–212. doi: 10.1172/JCI103265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. GORDON R. S., Jr Unesterified fatty acid in human blood plasma. II. The transport function of unesterified fatty acid. J Clin Invest. 1957 Jun;36(6 Pt 1):810–815. doi: 10.1172/JCI103486. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. HAVEL R. J. Conversion of plasma free fatty acids into triglycerides of plasma lipoprotein fractions in man. Metabolism. 1961 Dec;10:1031–1034. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. HIGHMAN B., MALING H. M., THOMPSON E. C. Serum transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels after large doses of norepinephrine and epinephrine in dogs. Am J Physiol. 1959 Feb;196(2):436–440. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1959.196.2.436. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. LAURELL S. Turnover rate of unesterified fatty acids in human plasma. Acta Physiol Scand. 1957 Dec 7;41(2-3):158–167. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1957.tb01517.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. MALING H. M., HIGHMAN B. Exaggerated ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial fatty changes after large doses of norepinephrine and epinephrine in unanesthetized dogs. Am J Physiol. 1958 Sep;194(3):590–596. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1958.194.3.590. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. MOORE F. D., HALEY H. B., BERING E. A., Jr, BROOKS L., EDELMAN I. S. Further observations on total body water. II. Changes of body composition in disease. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1952 Aug;95(2):155–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Moss A. J., Vittands I., Schenk E. A. Cardiovascular effects of sustained norepinephrine infusions. 1. Hemodynamics. Circ Res. 1966 May;18(5):596–604. doi: 10.1161/01.res.18.5.596. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Porte D., Jr, Graber A. L., Kuzuya T., Williams R. H. The effect of epinephrine on immunoreactive insulin levels in man. J Clin Invest. 1966 Feb;45(2):228–236. doi: 10.1172/JCI105335. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. RICH C., BIERMAN E. L., SCHWARTZ I. L. Plasma nonesterified fatty acids in hyperthyroid states. J Clin Invest. 1959 Feb;38(2):275–278. doi: 10.1172/JCI103799. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. ROSENTHALE M. E., DIPALMA J. R. Acute tolerance to norepinephrine in dogs. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1962 Jun;136:336–343. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. SCHMUTZER K. J., RASCHKE E., MALONEY J. V., Jr Intravenous 1-norepinephrine as a casue of reduced plasma volume. Surgery. 1961 Sep;50:452–457. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Schenk E. A., Galbreath R., Moss A. J. Cardiovascular effects of sustained norepinephrine infusions. 3. Lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme release. Circ Res. 1966 May;18(5):616–619. doi: 10.1161/01.res.18.5.616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Schenk E. A., Moss A. J. Cardiovascular effects of sustained norepinephrine infusions. II. Morphology. Circ Res. 1966 May;18(5):605–615. doi: 10.1161/01.res.18.5.605. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. WADSTROM L. B. Changes in the concentration of unesterified fatty acids, glycerides and phospholipids in human plasma following operation. Acta Chir Scand. 1959 Feb 28;116(3):167–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. YALOW R. S., BERSON S. A. Immunoassay of endogenous plasma insulin in man. J Clin Invest. 1960 Jul;39:1157–1175. doi: 10.1172/JCI104130. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Postgraduate Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES