scholarly journals Glycogen synthesis in the perfused liver of adrenalectomized rats

1976 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
P D Whitton ◽  
D A Hems

1. A total loss of capacity for net glycogen synthesis was observed in experiments with the perfused liver of starved adrenalectomized rats. 2. This lesion was corrected by insulin or cortisol in vivo (over 2-5h), but not by any agent tested in perfusion. 3. The activity of glycogen synthetase a, and its increase during perfusion, in the presence of glucose plus glucogenic substrates, were proportional to the rate of net glycogen accumulation. 4. This complete inherent loss of capacity for glycogen synthesis after adrenalectomy is greater than any defect in hepatic metabolism yet reported in this situation, and is not explicable by a decrease in the rate of gluconegenesis (which supports glycogen synthesis in the liver of starved rats). The short-term (2-5h) stimulatory effect of glucocorticoids in the intact animal, on hepatic glycogen deposition, may be mediated partly through insulin action, although neither insulin or cortisol appear to act directly on the liver to stimulate glycogen synthesis.

1972 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Hems ◽  
P. D. Whitton ◽  
E. A. Taylor

1. In the isolated perfused liver from 48h-starved rats, glycogen synthesis was followed by sequential sampling of the two major lobes. 2. The fastest observed rates of glycogen deposition (0.68–0.82μmol of glucose/min per g fresh liver) were obtained in the left lateral lobe, when glucose in the medium was 25–30mm and when gluconeogenic substrates were present (pyruvate, glycerol and serine: each initially 5mm). In this situation there was no net disappearance of glucose from the perfusion medium, although 14C from [U-14C]glucose was incorporated into glycogen. There was no requirement for added hormones. 3. In the absence of gluconeogenic precursors, glycogen synthesis from glucose (30mm) was 0–0.4μmol/min per g. 4. When livers were perfused with gluconeogenic precursors alone, no glycogen was deposited. The total amount of glucose formed was similar to the amount converted into glycogen when 30mm-glucose was also present. 5. The time-course, maximal rates and glucose dependence of hepatic glycogen deposition in the perfused liver resembled those found in vivo in 48h-starved rats, during infusion of glucose. 6. In the perfused liver, added insulin or sodium oleate did not significantly affect glycogen synthesis in optimum conditions. In suboptimum conditions (i.e. glucose less than 25mm, or with gluconeogenic precursors absent) insulin caused a moderate acceleration of glycogen deposition. 7. These results suggest that on re-feeding after starvation in the rat, hepatic glycogen deposition could be initially the result of continued gluconeogenesis, even after the ingestion of glucose. This conclusion is discussed, particularly in connexion with the role of hepatic glucokinase, and the involvement of the liver in the glucose intolerance of starvation.


1975 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
P D Whitton ◽  
D A Hems

1. Net glycogen accumulation was measured in sequentially removed samples during perfusion of the liver of starved streptozotocin-diabetic rats, and shown to be significantly impaired, compared with rates in normal (starved) rats. 2. In perfusions of normal livers with glucose plus C3 substrates, there was an increase in the proportion of glycogen synthetase ‘a’, compared with that in the absence of substrates. This response to substrates, followed in sequential synthesis and enzymic sensitivity in the perfused liver of diabetic rats were reversed by pretreatment in vivo with glucose plus fructose, or insulin. Glucose alone did not produce this effect. 4. Glucose, fructose, insulin or cortisol added to e perfusion medium (in the absence of pretreatment in vivo) did not stimulate glycogen synthesis in diabetic rats. 5. In intact diabetic rats, there was a decline in rates of net hepatic glycogen accumulation, and the response of glycogen synthetase to substrates. The most rapid rates of synthesis were obtained after fructose administration. 6. These results demonstrate that there is a marked inherent impairment in hepatic glycogen synthesis in starved diabetic rats, which can be rapidly reversed in vivo but no in perfusion. Thus hepatic glycogen synthesis does not appear to be sensitive to either the short-term direct action of insulin (added alone to perfusions) of to long-term insulin deprivation in vivo. The regulatory roles of substrates, insulin and glycogen synthetase in hepatic glycogen accumulation are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (12) ◽  
pp. 6733-6740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago M. Batista ◽  
Sezin Dagdeviren ◽  
Shannon H. Carroll ◽  
Weikang Cai ◽  
Veronika Y. Melnik ◽  
...  

Insulin action in the liver is critical for glucose homeostasis through regulation of glycogen synthesis and glucose output. Arrestin domain-containing 3 (Arrdc3) is a member of the α-arrestin family previously linked to human obesity. Here, we show thatArrdc3is differentially regulated by insulin in vivo in mice undergoing euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps, being highly up-regulated in liver and down-regulated in muscle and fat. Mice with liver-specific knockout (KO) of the insulin receptor (IR) have a 50% reduction inArrdc3messenger RNA, while, conversely, mice with liver-specific KO ofArrdc3(L-Arrdc3KO) have increased IR protein in plasma membrane. This leads to increased hepatic insulin sensitivity with increased phosphorylation of FOXO1, reduced expression of PEPCK, and increased glucokinase expression resulting in reduced hepatic glucose production and increased hepatic glycogen accumulation. These effects are due to interaction of ARRDC3 with IR resulting in phosphorylation of ARRDC3 on a conserved tyrosine (Y382) in the carboxyl-terminal domain. Thus,Arrdc3is an insulin target gene, and ARRDC3 protein directly interacts with IR to serve as a feedback regulator of insulin action in control of liver metabolism.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. E42-E49 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Niewoehner ◽  
B. Neil

We have compared the effects of administration of oral galactose or glucose (1 g/kg) to 24-h fasted rats to examine the mechanism by which galactose regulates its own incorporation into liver glycogen in vivo. Liver glycogen increased to a maximum more slowly after galactose than after glucose administration (0.14 vs. 0.29 mumol.g liver-1.min-1). Glycogen accumulation after the galactose load was 70% of that after the glucose load (149 vs. 214 mumol), and the net increase in liver glycogen represented the same proportion (24 vs. 22%) of added carbohydrate after urinary loss of galactose was accounted for. Slower glycogen accumulation after galactose vs. glucose loading could not be explained by galactosuria, by differences in the active forms of synthase or phosphorylase, by end product (glycogen) inhibition of synthase phosphatase, or by different concentrations of the known allosteric effectors of synthase R plus I and phosphorylase a. Similar increases in glucose 6-phosphate were observed after both hexoses. AMP and ADP increased only transiently after galactose administration, and ATP, UTP, and Pi concentrations were unchanged. The UDP-glucose concentration decreased, whereas the UDP-galactose concentration increased two- to threefold after galactose but not glucose administration. The UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase reaction is inhibited competitively by UDP-galactose. This could explain the decreased UDP-glucose concentration and the reduced rate of glycogen synthesis after galactose was given.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. E358-E366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason J. Winnick ◽  
Zhibo An ◽  
Mary Courtney Moore ◽  
Christopher J. Ramnanan ◽  
Ben Farmer ◽  
...  

To determine the effect of an acute increase in hepatic glycogen on net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) and disposition in response to insulin in vivo, studies were performed on two groups of dogs fasted 18 h. During the first 4 h of the study, somatostatin was infused peripherally, while insulin and glucagon were replaced intraportally in basal amounts. Hyperglycemia was brought about by glucose infusion, and either saline ( n = 7) or fructose ( n = 7; to stimulate NHGU and glycogen deposition) was infused intraportally. A 2-h control period then followed, during which the portal fructose and saline infusions were stopped, allowing NHGU and glycogen deposition in the fructose-infused animals to return to rates similar to those of the animals that received the saline infusion. This was followed by a 2-h experimental period, during which hyperglycemia was continued but insulin infusion was increased fourfold in both groups. During the initial 4-h glycogen loading period, NHGU averaged 1.18 ± 0.27 and 5.55 ± 0.53 mg·kg−1·min−1 and glycogen synthesis averaged 0.72 ± 0.24 and 3.98 ± 0.57 mg·kg−1·min−1 in the saline and fructose groups, respectively ( P < 0.05). During the 2-h hyperinsulinemic period, NHGU rose from 1.5 ± 0.4 and 0.9 ± 0.2 to 3.1 ± 0.6 and 2.5 ± 0.5 mg·kg−1·min−1 in the saline and fructose groups, respectively, a change of 1.6 mg·kg−1·min−1 in both groups despite a significantly greater liver glycogen level in the fructose-infused group. Likewise, the metabolic fate of the extracted glucose (glycogen, lactate, or carbon dioxide) was not different between groups. These data indicate that an acute physiological increase in the hepatic glycogen content does not alter liver glucose uptake and storage under hyperglycemic/hyperinsulinemic conditions in the dog.


1983 ◽  
Vol 214 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bollen ◽  
G Gevers ◽  
W Stalmans

Hepatocytes from adrenalectomized 48 h-starved rats responded to increasing glucose concentrations with a progressively more complete inactivation of phosphorylase. Yet no activation of glycogen synthase occurred, even in a K+-rich medium. Protein phosphatase activities in crude liver preparations were assayed with purified substrates. Adrenalectomy plus starvation decreased synthase phosphatase activity by about 90%, but hardly affected phosphorylase phosphatase activity. Synthase b present in liver extracts from adrenalectomized starved rats was rapidly and completely converted into the a form on addition of liver extract from a normal fed rat. Glycogen synthesis can be slowly re-induced by administration of either glucose or cortisol to the deficient rats. In these conditions there was a close correspondence between the initial recovery of synthase phosphatase activity and the amount of synthase a present in the liver. The latter parameter was strictly correlated with the measured rate of glycogen synthesis in vivo. The decreased activity of synthase phosphatase emerges thus as the single factor that limits hepatic glycogen deposition in the adrenalectomized starved rat.


Author(s):  
J.E. Michaels ◽  
S.A. Garfield ◽  
S.S. Smith ◽  
J.T. Hung ◽  
R.R. Cardell

The effects on glycogen synthesis of short- and long-term stimulation with dexamethasone (DEX) were studied in adrenalectomized, overnight-fasted rats by light (LM) and electron microscopic (EM) radioautography (RAG). Rats were injected with DEX 3 hr (short-term) or 14 hr (long-term) prior to labeling by intravenous injection of 2 mCi 3H-galactose, a glycogen precursor. Liver was prepared for LM and EM RAG by routine procedures.Short-term rats were sacrificed 1, 6 and 12 hr after labeling. One hr after injection of label (Fig. 1) equal percentages (44%) of heavily (> 10 grains/100 μm2 hepatocyte cytoplasm) and lightly (<10 grains/100 μm2 cytoplasm) labeled hepatocytes were evident. Six hr after labeling, heavily labeled cells increased slightly as labeled and unlabeled glycogen became evident. The appearance of unlabeled glycogen was evidence that glycogen synthesis continued between 1 and 6 hr, as circulating label fell to a level below that necessary for radioautographic labeling to occur. Twelve hr after labeling (Fig. 2) the percentage of heavily labeled hepatocytes (31%) decreased to less than at one hour as unlabeled glycogen increased. These results indicated that although glycogen synthesis had continued, some loss of label had occurred.


Author(s):  
Joanette Shockey Breslin ◽  
Robert R. Cardell

Analyses of adult hepatic glycogen deposition by numerous investigators have determined that the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) proliferates immediately prior to glycogen deposition and during the early stages of glycogen accumulation, then decreases as glycogen levels reach their maximum, suggesting that SER participates in adult hepatic glycogen metabolism. Less is known regarding fetal hepatic glycogen synthesis and the participation of the fetal SER. The studies described here test the hypothesis that the SER functions in the synthesis of fetal hepatic glycogen. Quantitative analysis of SER and glycogen levels during hepatic glycogen synthesis tests the existence of a correlation between glycogen and SER. Newly deposited labeled glycogen is localized via autoradiography and the extent of association between labeled glycogen and SER quantified, establishing whether glycogen is necessarily deposited near membranes of SER.Fetal mouse livers were harvested at daily intervals between days 14 and 19 of gestation, immersion fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde, 2% paraformaldehyde, post-fixed in 1 % OsO4 dehydrated in EtOH and embedded in Epon 812. Semi-thin (0.5μm) and ultra-thin sections (60 nm) were prepared for morphometric analysis.2


1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
R R Cardell ◽  
J E Michaels ◽  
J T Hung ◽  
E L Cardell

Hormonal control of hepatic glycogen and blood glucose levels is one of the major homeostatic mechanisms in mammals: glycogen is synthesized when portal glucose concentration is sufficiently elevated and degraded when glucose levels are low. We have studied initial events of hepatic glycogen synthesis by injecting the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) into adrenalectomized rats fasted overnight. Hepatic glycogen levels are very low in adrenalectomized rats, and DEX causes rapid deposition of the complex carbohydrate. Investigation of the process of glycogen deposition was performed by light and electron microscopic (EM) radioautography using [3H]galactose as a glycogen precursor. Rats injected with DEX for 2-3 h and [3H]galactose one hour before being killed displayed an increasing number of intensely labeled hepatocytes. EM radioautography revealed silver grains over small (+/- 1 micron) ovoid or round areas of the cytosome that were rich in smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and contained a high concentration of small dense particles. These distinct areas or foci of SER and presumptive glycogen (SERGE) were most numerous during initial periods of glycogen synthesis. After longer exposure to DEX (4-5 h) more typical deposits of cytoplasmic glycogen were evident in the SERGE regions. Several criteria indicated that the SERGE foci contained glycogen or presumptive glycogen: resemblance of the largest dense particles to beta-glycogen particles in EM; association of 3H-carbohydrate with the foci; removal of particles and label with alpha-amylase; and positive reaction with periodic acid-chromic acid-silver methenamine. The concentration of SER in the small foci and the association of newly formed glycogen particles with elements of SER suggest a role for this organelle in the initial synthesis of glycogen.


Author(s):  
J. E. Michaels ◽  
J. T. Hung ◽  
E. L. Cardell ◽  
R. R. Cardell

In order to study early events of glycogen synthesis, we have used adrenalectomized (ADX) rats fasted overnight and injected with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) to stimulate glycogen synthesis. Rats were given DEX 0-5 hr prior to sacrifice and injected with 2 mCi 3H-galactose 1 hr prior to sacrifice. Liver was prepared for light (LM) and electron microscopic (EM) radioautography by routine procedures.The concentration of silver grains over hepatic cytoplasm was measured in LM radioautographs using a Zeiss Videoplan. The hepatocytes were categorized as unlabeled if no silver grains (gr) were present, lightly labeled (<10gr/100 μm2 cytoplasm) or intensely labeled (>10 gr/1002 μm cytoplasm). Although very few hepatocytes showed heavy labeling after 1 hr treatment with DEX, by 2 hr after DEX treatment 8% of the cells distributed throughout the lobule were intensely labeled.


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