The effect of epinephrine on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in perfused hindlimbs of fed rats was studied. Insulin increased glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner from a basal value of 1.5±0.3 up to a maximum value of 5.3±0.9 μmol/min per 100 g with 6 nM (1 m U/ml). Epinephrine at 10 nM and 0.1 μM also increased glucose uptake to 2.6±0.1 and 3.1±0.1 μmol/min per 100 g, respectively. These same concentrations of epinephrine, however, suppressed the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake to 3.2±0.3 μmol/min per 100 g. Both the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of epinephrine on glucose uptake were completely reversed by propranolol, but were not significantly altered by phentolamine.

Uptake of 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose into thigh muscles of the perfused hindlimbs was stimulated fivefold by insulin, but was unaffected by epinephrine. Epinephrine also did not inhibit the stimulation of uptake by insulin. Epinephrine decreased the phosphorylation of 2-deoxyglucose, however, and caused the intracellular accumulation of free glucose. These last two effects were more prominent in the presence of insulin. Whereas epinephrine caused large rises in glucose-6-P and fructose-6-P, insulin did not alter the concentration of these metabolites either in the absence or presence of epinephrine.

These data indicate that: (a) epinephrine has a stimulatory effect on glucose uptake by perfused rat hindlimbs that does not appear to be exerted on skeletal muscle; (b) epinephrine does not affect hexose transport in skeletal muscle; (c) epinephrine inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle by inhibiting glucose phosphorylation. It is hypothesized that the inhibition of glucose phosphorylation is due to the stimulation of glycogenolysis, which leads to the accumulation of hexose phosphates, which inhibit hexokinase.