Hindbrain catecholamine regulation of ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus glycogen metabolism during acute versus recurring insulin-induced hypoglycemia in male versus female rat

•Norepinephrine controls ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) glycogen phosphorylase (GP) isoform expression.•6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) prevented sex-dimorphic GP-muscle (GPmm) and -brain (GPbb) type protein responses to acute hypoglycemia.•Females, but not male recovered from acute hypoglycemia showed amplified baseline GPmm and GPbb expression.•VMN GPmm and GPbb profiles were refractory to recurring hypoglycemia (RH) in each sex despite 6OHDA treatment.•RH-associated extinction of VMN glycogen metabolic enzyme expression patterns may denote target desensitization to noradrenergic input.