REGULATORY MECHANISM OF THE VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMUS IN ENHANCING GLUCOSE-UPTAKE IN SKELETAL-MUSCLES

To evaluate roles of the sympathetic nervous system in enhancing gluco se uptake in skeletal muscles in response to electrical stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), the effects of guanethid ine treatment and adrenal demedullation on the response were examined in rats anesthetized and injected with muscle relaxant, pancuronium br omide. Pretreatment with guanethidine effectively suppressed the incre ase in the rate constant of glucose uptake, measured by the 2-deoxy-D- [H-3]glucose method, in skeletal muscles upon VMH stimulation. However , bilateral adrenodemedullation had no significant effect. These resul ts suggest that the VMH is intimately concerned in the regulation of g lucose uptake in skeletal muscles through intermediation of the sympat hetic nerves.