STRESS, ACUTE HYPERGLYCEMIA, AND HYPERLIPIDEMIA - ROLE OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM AND CYTOKINES

Stress is accompanied by metabolic alterations that could contribute t o the etiology of diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascu lar diseases; however, the mechanisms by which stress affects glucose and lipid metabolism remain to be resolved. Stress-induced effects on neurotransmission and interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling rapidly produce h yperglycemia by increasing sympathetic outflow. Activation of the symp athetic nervous system can also rapidly stimulate lipolysis and hepati c triglyceride secretion. Furthermore, stress increases serum interleu kin-6 (IL-6) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels by activating neuroe ndocrine systems. IL-6 and NGF can rapidly increase lipolysis and hepa tic triglyceride secretion without inducing hyperglycemia. The sympath etic nervous system does not mediate cytokine-induced hypertriglycerid emia. Thus, the central nervous system plays an important role in regu lation of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism via the sympathetic ner vous system and cytokines. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.