Metabolic effects induced by epinephrine in Rana balcanica erythrocytes under normoxic and hypoxic conditions

The metabolic effects of epinephrine on Rana balacanica erythrocyte suspension were studied under normoxia and hypoxia. After epinephrine treatment, a 1.2-fold increase of lactate formation and a 20 per cent decrease of ATP concentration was found under normoxic conditions. These effects were rapid and specific to beta, alpha(1) and alpha(2) antagonists. Glycolysis was stimulated to almost the same extent by both epinephrine and forskolin as normoxic conditions. The stimulation of glycolysis was probably due to stimulation of phosphofructokinase (PFK) as well as to activation of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase. The decrease of ATP was a contributing factor to PFK activation. Despite the high levels of c-AMP at hypoxia, glycolysis was not further induced by epinephrine.