2‐Deoxy‐D‐Glucose but not 2‐Mercaptoacetate Increases Fos‐Like Immunoreactivity in Adrenal Medulla and Sympathetic Preganglionic Neurons

2‐Deoxy‐D‐glucose (2DG) and 2‐mercaptoacetate (MA) are drugs that competetively inhibit metabolism of glucose and fatty acids, respectively. Both 2DG and MA stimulate food intake. In addition, 2DG‐induced glucoprivation is a known stimulus for adrenomedullary secretion. However, very little is known about the effects of MA on the sympathoadrenal system. In the present study, we examined effects of 2DG and MA on the activity of preganglionic neurons and the adrenal medulla, as indicated by expression of Fos‐like immunoreactivity (Fos‐li). 2DG, MA, or saline was administered using a stress‐attenuated paradigm incorporating remote drug infusion. Expression of Fos‐like immunoreactivity (Fos‐li) was subsequently examined in the adrenal medulla and in preganglionic sympathetic neurons throughout the intermediolateral column (IML) of the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord. We found that 2DG increased Fos‐li in the adrenal medulla and in the IML primarily at spinal cord segments T7‐T10, where adrenomedullary preganglionic neurons reside. In contrast, MA did not induce Fos‐li either in the adrenal medulla or in sympathetic preganglionic neurons at any cord level. Results support the hypothesis that decreased fatty acid oxidation is not a stimulus for adrenal medullary secretion and provide evidence for a highly selective stimulation of adrenal medullary preganglionic neurons by 2DG.