Epinephrine-Induced Hyperglycemia and Glycogenolysis in Fed and Fasted Neonatal Swine

Epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia and liver and skeletal muscle glycogenolysis were measured in fed and fasted swine varying in age from 3 h to 39 days. Fed, newborn piglets were less sensitive to epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia or liver glycogenolysis than animals 7, 14 and 39 days of age. The hyperglycemic potency of epinephrine (0.5–125 μg/kg, i.v.) decreased with age in fasted swine. A hypoglycemic component was observed 40 min after the smaller doses of the catecholamine. Epinephrine did not alter skeletal muscle glycogen levels in these experiments.