Effects of adrenaline on plasma calcium, phosphate, and blood glucose in the dog

Ten dogs were anesthetized with pentobarbital, and after a control period of at least 1 h, during which three blood samples were taken, adrenaline (2–4 μg/kg per min) was infused intravenously for 1 h. Blood samples were taken at 15- or 30-min intervals during the infusion and for 2 h thereafter. These were analyzed for calcium, inorganic phosphate, and glucose. The plasma calcium level did not change significantly during or following the infusion; however, the plasma glucose rose and the plasma phosphate fell during adrenaline administration. The glucose level returned to normal within 2 h of termination of the infusion; in some dogs the plasma phosphate also returned to the control level, whereas in others it remained depressed at this time.