Effects of epinephrine on the net hepatic uptake of lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol in sheep

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald P. Brockman

Epinephrine causes hyperglycemia in part by increasing gluconeogenesis. However, the mechanism of its gluconeogenic effects has not been studied in ruminants. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of epinephrine on the net hepatic uptake of selected glucose precursors in sheep. The major abdominal blood vessels of the sheep were catheterized in normal and alloxan diabetic sheep. Glucose production, metabolic clearance of glucose, and the hepatic removal of certain glucose precursors were determined before, during, and after epinephrine infusion. Epinephrine increased the hepatic glucose output, the concentrations of lactate and glycerol in plasma, and the net hepatic uptake and fractional hepatic extraction of lactate and glycerol. These effects were independent of changes in the concentrations of insulin and glucagon in plasma. These results show that epinephrine directly stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis in sheep.Key words: epinephrine, hepatic gluconeogenesis, sheep.

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. E363-E370 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Stevenson ◽  
K. E. Steiner ◽  
C. C. Connolly ◽  
H. Fuchs ◽  
K. G. Alberti ◽  
...  

The effects of increases in plasma epinephrine from 78 +/- 32 to 447 +/- 75, 1,812 +/- 97, or 2,495 +/- 427 pg/ml on glucose production, including gluconeogenesis, were determined in the conscious, overnight-fasted dog, using a combination of tracer [( 3-3H]glucose and [U-14C]alanine) and arteriovenous difference techniques. Insulin and glucagon were fixed at basal levels using a pancreatic clamp. Plasma glucose levels rose during the 180-min epinephrine infusion by 47 +/- 7, 42 +/- 22, and 74 +/- 25 mg/dl, respectively, in association with increases in hepatic glucose output of 1.04 +/- 0.22, 1.87 +/- 0.23, and 3.70 +/- 0.83 mg.kg-1.min-1 (at 15 min). Blood lactate levels rose by 1.52 +/- 0.24, 4.29 +/- 0.49, and 4.60 +/- 0.45 mmol/l, respectively, by 180 min, despite increases in hepatic uptake of lactate of 3.47 +/- 5.73, 12.83 +/- 3.46, and 37.00 +/- 4.20 mumol.kg-1.min-1. The intrahepatic gluconeogenic efficiency with which the liver converted the incoming alanine to glucose had risen by 84 +/- 40, 77 +/- 24, and 136 +/- 34% at 180 min, respectively. The latter effect plus the effect on net hepatic lactate uptake point to an intrahepatic action of high levels of the hormone in vivo. In conclusion, epinephrine produces dose-dependent increments in overall glucose production, which involve a progressive stimulation of both glycogenolysis (as assessed by glucose production at 15 min) and gluconeogenesis (assessed in the last 30 min of the study). The latter involves a peripheral action of the catecholamine to increase gluconeogenic substrate supply to the liver and may also involve a hepatic effect when high epinephrine levels are present.


Endocrinology ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
TOSHIHIKO ISHIDA ◽  
MARGARET C. Y. CHOU ◽  
ROBERT M. LEWIS ◽  
CRAIG J HARTLEY ◽  
MARK ENTMAN ◽  
...  

1975 ◽  
Vol 228 (5) ◽  
pp. 1580-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
PE Harding ◽  
G Bloom ◽  
JB Field

Hepatic extraction of insulin was examined in anesthetized dogs before and after constant infusion of insulin (20 and 50 mU/min) with use of samples from the portal vein, mesenteric vein, left common hepatic vein, and the femoral artery. In 19 dogs, measurement of portal vein insulin concentration indicated an overall recovery of 110% of the insulin infused. The range varied from 9 to 303%, indicating the potential for serious error in sampling the portal vein. Equilibrium arterial insulin concentrations were achieved 20 min after starting the infusion. Prior to insulin infusion, hepatic extraction of insulin averaged 4.56 plus or minus 0.43 mUmin, representing an extraction coefficient of 0.42 of the insulin presented to the liver. The proportion of insulin extracted by the liver did not change significantly during insulin infusion despite a 10-fold increase in portal vein insulin concentrations. During the infusion of insulin, a significant proportion of the extraheptic clearance of insulin occurred in the mesenteric circulation. Infusion of insulin was associated with a significant increase in insulin extraction by tissues other than the liver and splanchnic beds. Initially, hepatic glucose output average 36 plus or minus 3 mg/min; by 20 min after insulin infusion, it was 16 plus or minus 5 mg/min. Despite continuation of insulin infusion, hepatic glucose output returned to control values even though arterial glucose concentration continued to fall. Hepatic glucose output increased with termination of insulin infusion.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (2) ◽  
pp. E226-E233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Courtney Moore ◽  
Sylvain Cardin ◽  
Dale S. Edgerton ◽  
Ben Farmer ◽  
Doss W. Neal ◽  
...  

Portal infusion of glucose in the mouse at a rate equivalent to basal endogenous glucose production causes hypoglycemia, whereas peripheral infusion at the same rate causes significant hyperglycemia. We used tracer and arteriovenous difference techniques in conscious 42-h-fasted dogs to determine their response to the same treatments. The studies consisted of three periods: equilibration (100 min), basal (40 min), and experimental (180 min), during which glucose was infused at 13.7 μmol· kg–1·min–1 into a peripheral vein (PE, n = 5) or the hepatic portal (PO, n = 5) vein. Arterial blood glucose increased ∼0.8 mmol/l in both groups. Arterial and hepatic sinusoidal insulin concentrations were not significantly different between groups. PE exhibited an increase in nonhepatic glucose uptake (non-HGU; Δ8.6 ± 1.2 μmol·kg–1·min–1) within 30 min, whereas PO showed a slight suppression (Δ–3.7 ± 3.1 μmol·kg–1·min–1). PO shifted from net hepatic glucose output (NHGO) to uptake (NHGU; 2.5 ± 2.8 μmol·kg–1·min–1) within 30 min, but PE still exhibited NHGO (6.0 ± 1.9 μmol·kg–1·min–1) at that time and did not initiate NHGU until after 90 min. Glucose rates of appearance and disappearance did not differ between groups. The response to the two infusion routes was markedly different. Peripheral infusion caused a rapid enhancement of non-HGU, whereas portal delivery quickly activated NHGU. As a result, both groups maintained near-euglycemia. The dog glucoregulates more rigorously than the mouse in response to both portal and peripheral glucose delivery.


1998 ◽  
pp. 240-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Moore ◽  
CC Connolly ◽  
AD Cherrington

In vitro evidence indicates that the liver responds directly to changes in circulating glucose concentrations with reciprocal changes in glucose production and that this autoregulation plays a role in maintenance of normoglycemia. Under in vivo conditions it is difficult to separate the effects of glucose on neural regulation mediated by the central nervous system from its direct effect on the liver. Nevertheless, it is clear that nonhormonal mechanisms can cause significant changes in net hepatic glucose balance. In response to hyperglycemia, net hepatic glucose output can be decreased by as much as 60-90% by nonhormonal mechanisms. Under conditions in which hepatic glycogen stores are high (i.e. the overnight-fasted state), a decrease in the glycogenolytic rate and an increase in the rate of glucose cycling within the liver appear to be the explanation for the decrease in hepatic glucose output seen in response to hyperglycemia. During more prolonged fasting, when glycogen levels are reduced, a decrease in gluconeogenesis may occur as a part of the nonhormonal response to hyperglycemia. A substantial role for hepatic autoregulation in the response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia is most clearly evident in severe hypoglycemia (< or = 2.8 mmol/l). The nonhormonal response to hypoglycemia apparently involves enhancement of both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis and is capable of supplying enough glucose to meet at least half of the requirement of the brain. The nonhormonal response can include neural signaling, as well as autoregulation. However, even in the absence of the ability to secrete counterregulatory hormones (glucocorticoids, catecholamines, and glucagon), dogs with denervated livers (to interrupt neural pathways between the liver and brain) were able to respond to hypoglycemia with increases in net hepatic glucose output. Thus, even though the endocrine system provides the primary response to changes in glycemia, autoregulation plays an important adjunctive role.


1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 999-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bela Issekutz Jr. ◽  
Ingrid Borkow

The turnover rate of glucose was measured in dogs with indwelling arterial and venous catheters, according to the primed constant rate infusion techniques, using 2-3H-glucose as tracer. The effects of adrenalin (A), noradrenalin (NA), and dibutyryl-cAMP (DBcAMP) infusions were tested on normal dogs and on dogs treated for 3 days with methylprednisolone (MP, 3–3.5 mg/kg day). MP potentiated the hyperglycemic effect of A (0.5 μg/kg min) six- to sevenfold, and the increase of hepatic glucose output (Ra) 11-fold. In addition, the free fatty acid (FFA) increasing and lactacidemic effects of A were significantly potentiated by MP. A prevented the rise of immunoreactive insulin even though plasma glucose reached values of 400–450 mg%. The metabolic clearance rate was significantly decreased by A. NA (0.5 μg/kg min) had no hyperglycemic effect in the controls, but it increased the blood sugar by 120 mg% in the treated group. This was caused by a more than twofold increase in the hepatic glucose output. MP treatment did not alter the NA induced rise of FFA and no effect was seen on plasma lactate levels. NA caused a transient rise of insulin in the controls and a greater and more sustained one in treated dogs. Following MP treatment, DBcAMP (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg min) also caused a much greater hepatic glucose output and hyperglycemia than what had been obtained on the same animals prior to treatment. DBcAMP increased plasma insulin and decreased FFA. It is concluded that the cyclic-AMP sensitivity of hepatic enzyme systems involved in glucose output was greatly increased by MP treatment.


1979 ◽  
Vol 236 (2) ◽  
pp. E113
Author(s):  
L Saccà ◽  
R Sherwin ◽  
P Felig

Glucose kinetics were measured using [3-3H]glucose in conscious dogs during the infusion of: 1) glucagon alone; 2) glucagon plus somatostatin with insulin replacement; 3) epinephrine alone; and 4) epinephrine plus somatostatin with insulin and glucagon replacement. Infusion of glucagon alone resulted in a 10-15 mg/dl rise in plasma glucose and a transient 45% rise in glucose production. When somatostatin and insulin were added, a four- to fivefold greater rise in plasma glucose and glucose production was observed. Glucagon levels were comparable to those achieved with infusion of glucagon alone, whereas peripheral insulin levels increased three- to fourfold above baseline, suggesting adequate replacement of preinfusion portal insulin levels. Infusion of epinephrine alone produced a 40% rise in plasma glucose and a 100% rise in glucose production. When somatostatin, insulin, and glucagon were added to epinephrine, the rise in glucose production was reduced in 65% despite replacement of glucagon levels and presumably mild portal insulin deficiency. These findings suggest that somatostatin: 1) potentiates the stimulatory effect of physiologic hyperglucagonemia on glucose production independent of insulin availability and 2) blunts the stimulatory effect of physiologic increments of epinephrine independent of glucagon availability.


1995 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1883-1888 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Sumida ◽  
C. M. Donovan

The effects of endurance training (running 90 min/day, 30 m/min, approximately 10% grade) on hepatic gluconeogenesis were studied in 24-h-fasted rats by using the isolated liver perfusion technique. After isolation, livers were perfused (single pass) for 30 min with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer and fresh bovine red blood cells (hematocrit 20–24%) with no added substrate. Alanine (10 mM), dihydroxyacetone (20 mM), or glutamine (10 mM) was then added to the reservoir, and perfusions continued for 60 min. No significant differences were observed in perfusate pH, hematocrit, bile production, or serum alanine aminotransferase effluxing from livers from trained or control animals for any perfusion. Livers from trained animals that were perfused with 10 mM alanine demonstrated significantly higher rates of glucose production compared with livers from control animals (0.51 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.40 +/- 0.02 micromol.min-1.g liver-1, respectively). Elevations of a similar magnitude were observed for rates of [14C]alanine incorporation into [14C]glucose in livers from trained vs. control animals (8,797 +/- 728 vs. 6,962 +/- 649 dpm.min-1.g liver-1, respectively). Significant increases were also observed in hepatic alanine uptake (30%), oxygen consumption (23%), urea release (22%), and 14CO2 production (29%) of livers of endurance-trained animals. In contrast, no significant differences between groups were observed for hepatic glucose output after perfusions with either dihydroxyacetone (1.75 +/- 0.06 micromol.min-1.g liver-1) or glutamine (0.62 +/- 0.04 micromol.min-1.g liver-1). Further, during perfusions with dihydroxyacetone and glutamine, training had no significant impact on precursor uptake, oxygen consumption, or urea output. The current findings indicate a training-induced adaptation for hepatic gluconeogenesis located below the level of the triose phosphates.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (3) ◽  
pp. E294-E302 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Sacca ◽  
C. Vigorito ◽  
M. Cicala ◽  
G. Corso ◽  
R. S. Sherwin

To evaluate the contribution of gluconeogenesis to epinephrine-stimulated glucose production, we infused epinephrine (0.06 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1) for 90 min into normal humans during combined hepatic vein catheterization and [U-14C]alanine infusion. Epinephrine infusion produced a rise in blood glucose (50-60%) and plasma insulin (30-40%), whereas glucagon levels increased only at 30 min (19%, P less than 0.05). Net splanchnic glucose output transiently increased by 150% and then returned to base line by 60 min. In contrast, the conversion of labeled alanine and lactate into glucose increased fourfold and remained elevated throughout the epinephrine infusion. Similarly, epinephrine produced a sustained increase in the net splanchnic uptake of cold lactate (four- to fivefold) and alanine (50-80%) although the fractional extraction of both substrates by splanchnic tissues was unchanged. We conclude that a) epinephrine is a potent stimulator of gluconeogenesis in humans, and b) this effect is primarily mediated by mobilization of lactate and alanine from extrasplanchnic tissues. Our data suggest that the initial epinephrine-induced rise in glucose production is largely due to activation of glycogenolysis. Thereafter, the effect of epinephrine on glycogenolysis (but not gluconeogenesis) wanes, and epinephrine-stimulated gluconeogenesis becomes the major factor maintaining hepatic glucose production.


1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 782-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Sumida ◽  
J. H. Urdiales ◽  
C. M. Donovan

The effects of endurance training (running 90 min/day at 30 m/min, 10% grade) on hepatic gluconeogenesis were studied in 24-h-fasted rats with use of the isolated liver perfusion technique. After isolation, the liver was perfused (single pass) for 30 min with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer and fresh bovine erythrocytes (hematocrit 22–24%) with no added substrate. Subsequent to the "washout" period, the reservoir was elevated with various concentrations of lactate and [U-14C]lactate (10,000 dpm/ml) to assess hepatic glucose production. Relative flow rates were not significantly different between trained (1.94 +/- 0.05 ml/g liver) and control livers (1.91 +/- 0.05 ml/g liver). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in perfusate pH, hematocrit, bile production, or serum alanine aminotransferase effluxing from trained or control livers. At saturating arterial lactate concentrations (> 2 mM), the maximal rate (Vmax) for hepatic glucose production was significantly higher for trained (0.91 +/- 0.04 mumol.min-1 x g liver-1) than for control livers (0.73 +/- 0.02 mumol.min-1 x g liver-1). That this reflected increased gluconeogenesis is supported by a significant elevation in the Vmax for [14C]glucose production from trained (13,150 +/- 578 dpm.min-1 x g liver-1) compared with control livers (10,712 +/- 505 dpm.min-1 x g liver-1). Significant increases were also observed in the Vmax for lactate uptake (25%), O2 consumption (19%), and 14CO2 production (23%) from endurance-trained livers. The Km for hepatic glucose output, approximately 1.05 mM lactate, was unchanged after endurance training. These findings demonstrate that chronic physical activity results in an elevated capacity for hepatic gluconeogenesis, as assessed in situ at saturating lactate concentrations.


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