Liver glycogenolysis during exercise without a significant increase in cAMP

Liver glycogenolysis may be controlled by glucagon or catecholamine-induced changes in cAMP or by cAMP-independent mechanisms. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether an increase in liver cAMP occurs during exercise at a time when the rate of liver glycogenolysis is greatly accelerated. Rats were taught to run on a treadmill 10 min/day for 6 wk. They were then run continuously for periods of time ranging from 0 to 120 min at 0.8 mph up a 15% grade. Liver glycogen was depleted by the end of 90 min in fed animals and by 20 min in overnight-fasted animals. Liver cAMP was not significantly increased in fed animals during the first 60 min of exercise. The major increase in liver cAMP occurred after liver glycogen was depleted, at which time the rat must rely entirely on gluconeogenesis for maintenance of blood glucose. This increase in cAMP corresponded to large increases in plasma glucagon and catecholamines. We conclude that liver glycogenolysis in the rat can occur during exercise independently from significant detectable increases in cAMP concentrations.