Original Contribution THE INFLUENCE OF THE VERY LOW CALORIE DIET ON THE HYPERGLYCAEMIC EFFECT OF EPINEPHRINE IN NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS

In this study we investigated whether long lasting Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) decreased hyperglycaemic potential of epinephrine. For 80 days a group of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits received 120 g of standard commercial pellets, as Control, while another group received 30 g VLCD. At the end of the experiment 15µl/kg BW epinephrine was administered as intravenous bolus to both groups. One hour after administration blood glucose level increased significantly both in the VLCD (p<0.05) and the Control (p<0.001) groups without significant differences between them. Glycogen in VLCD hepatocytes was reduced but not fully exhausted. We concluded that in VLCD hyperglycaemic effect of epinephrine remained almost unaltered compared to Control group and this prevented VLCD treated subjects from hypoglycaemia.