Effect of reserpine on the release of adrenomedullary catecholamines and their role in glycemic and pressor responses in two avian species

Abstract

Reserpine in a dose of 0.75 mg/100 gm body weight injected into the fowl and the crow induced a significant fall in blood pressure after 20 hours. In both crow and fowl, hyperglycemia was noted after a period of 4 hours, but the crow showed a significant hypoglycemia after 20 hours. The blood sugar level declined in the fowl but remained higher than the control during this period. Reserpine treatment of shorter duration initiated a greater loss of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) in fowl and of adrenaline (epinephrine) in crow. A prolonged treatment with the tranquilizer caused a greater depletion of adrenaline than of noradrenaline in the fowl, while a similar stimulus in the crow resulted in a complete loss of both the catecholamines. The role of adrenomedullary hormones in avian carbohydrate metabolism and pressor homeostasis is discussed in the light of the present findings.