Co‐ordinated regulation of muscle glycolysis and hepatic glucose output in exercise by catecholamines acting via α‐receptors

Recent findings indicate that glucose uptake by contracting hindlimb #Acta Physiol. Scand. (1982) 116, 215-222 #and heart #Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1982) 108, 124-131 # of the rat is stimulated by epinephrine acting through alpha-adrenergic mechanisms. Since in exercise hepatic glucose output may be increased markedly by activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors and matched by the increase in muscle glucose uptake (maintaining blood glucose levels relatively constant), it is now proposed that a general coordination of glucose metabolism may operate via alpha-adrenergic receptor mechanisms. The basis for this proposal is discussed.