The glucose-phosphorylating capacity of liver as measured by three independent assays. Implications for the mechanism of hepatic glycogen synthesis

The harmful acute effects of clomipramine in the rat liver: impairments in mitochondrial bioenergetics

Clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, has been linked to a few cases of acute hepatotoxicity. It is also recognized as a compound that hinders the functioning of mitochondria. Hence, the effects of clomipramine on mitochondria should endanger processes that are somewhat connected to energy metabolism in the liver. For this reason, the primary aim of this study was to examine how the effects of clomipramine on mitochondrial functions manifest in the intact liver. For this purpose, we used the isolated perfused rat liver, but also isolated hepatocytes and isolated mitochondria as experimental systems. According to the findings, clomipramine harmed metabolic processes and the cellular structure of the liver, especially the membrane structure. The considerable decrease in oxygen consumption in perfused livers strongly suggested that the mechanism of clomipramine toxicity involves the disruption of mitochondrial functions. Coherently, it could be observed that clomipramine inhibited both gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis, two processes that rely on ATP production within the mitochondria. Half-maximal inhibitory concentrations for gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis ranged from 36.87μM to 59.64μM. The levels of ATP as well as the ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP ratios were reduced, but distinctly, between the livers of fasted and fed rats. The results obtained from experiments conducted on isolated hepatocytes and isolated mitochondria unambiguously confirmed previous propositions about the effects of clomipramine on mitochondrial functions. These findings revealed at least three distinct mechanisms of action, including uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, inhibition of the F_oF₁-ATP synthase complex, and inhibition of mitochondrial electron flow. The elevation in activity of cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes detected in the effluent perfusate from perfused livers, coupled with the increase in aminotransferase release and trypan blue uptake observed in isolated hepatocytes, provided further evidence of the hepatotoxicity of clomipramine. It can be concluded that impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics and cellular damage are important factors underlying the hepatotoxicity of clomipramine and that taking excessive amounts of clomipramine can lead to several risks including decreased ATP production, severe hypoglycemia, and potentially fatal outcomes.

Integrated Multiomics Reveals Glucose Use Reprogramming and Identifies a Novel Hexokinase in Alcoholic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We recently showed that alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is characterized by dedifferentiation of hepatocytes and loss of mature functions. Glucose metabolism is tightly regulated in healthy hepatocytes. We hypothesize that AH may lead to metabolic reprogramming of the liver, including dysregulation of glucose metabolism.

METHODS

We performed integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of liver tissue from patients with AH or alcoholic cirrhosis or normal liver tissue from hepatic resection. Focused analyses of chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to DNA sequencing was performed. Functional in vitro studies were performed in primary rat and human hepatocytes and HepG2 cells.

RESULTS

Patients with AH exhibited specific changes in the levels of intermediates of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and monosaccharide and disaccharide metabolism. Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome showed the used of alternate energetic pathways, metabolite sinks and bottlenecks, and dysregulated glucose storage in patients with AH. Among genes involved in glucose metabolism, hexokinase domain containing 1 (HKDC1) was identified as the most up-regulated kinase in patients with AH. Histone active promoter and enhancer markers were increased in the HKDC1 genomic region. High HKDC1 levels were associated with the development of acute kidney injury and decreased survival. Increased HKDC1 activity contributed to the accumulation of glucose-6-P and glycogen in primary rat hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Altered metabolite levels and messenger RNA expression of metabolic enzymes suggest the existence of extensive reprogramming of glucose metabolism in AH. Increased HKDC1 expression may contribute to dysregulated glucose metabolism and represents a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for AH.

The acute effects of citrus flavanones on the metabolism of glycogen and monosaccharides in the isolated perfused rat liver

Citrus flavanones are often linked to their antihyperglycemic properties. This effect may be in part due to the inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis through different mechanisms. One of the possible mechanisms appears to be impairment of oxidative phosphorylation, which may also interfere with glycogen metabolism. Based on these facts, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of three citrus flavanones on glycogenolysis in the isolated perfused rat liver. Hesperidin, hesperetin, and naringenin stimulated glycogenolysis and glycolysis from glycogen with concomitant changes in oxygen uptake. At higher concentrations (300 μM), hesperetin and naringenin clearly altered fructose and glucose metabolism, whereas hesperidin exerted little to no effects. In subcellular fractions hesperetin and naringenin inhibited the activity of glucose 6-phosphatase and glucokinase and the mitochondrial respiration linked to ADP phosphorylation. Hesperetin and naringenin also inhibited the transport of glucose into the cell. At a concentration of 300 μM, the glucose influx rate inhibition was 83% and 43% for hesperetin and naringenin, respectively. Hesperidin was the less active among the assayed citrus flavanones, indicating that the rutinoside moiety noticeably decrease the activity of these compounds. The effects on glycogenolysis and fructolysis were mainly consequence of an impairment on mitochondrial energy metabolism. The increased glucose release, due to the higher glycogenolysis, together with glucose transport inhibition is the opposite of what is expected for antihyperglycemic agents.

Reversal of diabetes following transplantation of an insulin-secreting human liver cell line: Melligen cells

As an alternative to the transplantation of islets, a human liver cell line has been genetically engineered to reverse type 1 diabetes (TID). The initial liver cell line (Huh7ins) commenced secretion of insulin in response to a glucose concentration of 2.5 mmol/l. After transfection of the Huh7ins cells with human islet glucokinase, the resultant Melligen cells secreted insulin in response to glucose within the physiological range; commencing at 4.25 mmol/l. Melligen cells exhibited increased glucokinase enzymatic activity in response to physiological glucose concentrations, as compared with Huh7ins cells. When transplanted into diabetic immunoincompetent mice, Melligen cells restored normoglycemia. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that both cell lines expressed a range of β-cell transcription factors and pancreatic hormones. Exposure of Melligen and Huh7ins cells to proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ) affected neither their viability nor their ability to secrete insulin to glucose. Gene expression (microarray and qRT-PCR) analyses indicated the survival of Melligen cells in the presence of known β-cell cytotoxins was associated with the expression of NF-κB and antiapoptotic genes (such as BIRC3). This study describes the successful generation of an artificial β-cell line, which, if encapsulated to avoid allograft rejection, may offer a clinically applicable cure for T1D.

Tadalafil inhibits the cAMP stimulated glucose output in the rat liver

The purpose of the present work was to verify if tadalafil affects hepatic glucose output, one of the primary targets of cAMP, in the isolated perfused rat liver. No effects on glycogen catabolism and oxygen uptake were found under basal conditions for tadalafil concentrations in the range between 0.25 and 10 μM. However, tadalafil had a clear and time-dependent inhibitory effect on the cAMP- and glucagon-stimulated glucose release. Constant infusion of tadalafil in the range between 0.25 and 10 μM eventually abolished 100% of the stimulatory action of those effectors. The tadalafil concentrations producing half-maximal rates of inhibition of the cAMP and glucagon stimulated glycogenolysis were 0.46±0.04 and 1.07±0.16 μM, respectively. These concentrations are close to the plasma peak concentrations in patients after ingestion of 20 mg tadalafil. The drug also diminished the activity of glycogen phosphorylase a and increased the activities of glucose 6-phosphatase, glucokinase, pyruvate kinase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. These actions occurred only in the cellular environment. Tadalafil did not affect binding of cAMP to protein kinase A. Diminution of cAMP-stimulated glucose output is the opposite of what can be expected from a phosphodiesterase inhibition, the most common effect attributed to tadalafil. Diminution of glucose output by tadalafil can be attributed (a) to an interference with glycogen phosphorylase stimulation and (b) to an increased futile cycling of glucose 6-phosphate and glucose with a concomitant increased flow of hexose units into cellular metabolic pathways. The effects described in the present work may prove to represent important side effects of tadalafil.

Effects of an Agaricus blazei aqueous extract pretreatment on paracetamol-induced brain and liver injury in rats

The action of an Agaricus blazei aqueous extract pretreatment on paracetamol injury in rats was examined not only in terms of the classical indicators (e.g., levels of hepatic enzymes in the plasma) but also in terms of functional and metabolic parameters (e.g., gluconeogenesis). Considering solely the classical indicators for tissue damage, the results can be regarded as an indication that the A. blazei extract is able to provide a reasonable degree of protection against the paracetamol injury in both the hepatic and brain tissues. The A. blazei pretreatment largely prevented the increased levels of hepatic enzymes in the plasma (ASP, ALT, LDH, and ALP) and practically normalized the TBARS levels in both liver and brain tissues. With respect to the functional and metabolic parameters of the liver, however, the extract provided little or no protection. This includes morphological signs of inflammation and the especially important functional parameter gluconeogenesis, which was impaired by paracetamol. Considering these results and the long list of extracts and substances that are said to have hepatoprotective effects, it would be useful to incorporate evaluations of functional parameters into the experimental protocols of studies aiming to attribute or refute effective hepatoprotective actions to natural products.

Actions of quercetin on gluconeogenesis and glycolysis in rat liver

1. The action of quercetin on glucose catabolism and production was investigated in the perfused rat liver. 2. Quercetin inhibited lactate production from glucose: 80% inhibition was found at a quercetin concentration of 100 micro M, and at higher concentrations inhibition was complete. 3. Pyruvate production from glucose presented a complex pattern, but stimulation was evident at 100 and 300 micro M quercetin. Oxygen uptake tended to be increased. 4. Glucose synthesis from lactate and pyruvate was inhibited. Inhibition was already evident at 50 micro M quercetin and almost complete at 300 micro M. Concomitantly, the increment in oxygen uptake caused by lactate plus pyruvate was stimulated by 50 micro M quercetin, but clearly inhibited by higher concentrations (100-500 micro M). 5. Glucose phosphorylation in the high-speed supernatant fractions of liver homogenates was inhibited by quercetin, but only at concentrations above 150 micro M. 6. It is concluded that quercetin can inhibit both glucose degradation and production and increase the cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH ratio. 7. These effects are likely to arise from many causes. Reduction of oxidative phosphorylation, inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, inhibition of glucokinase and inhibition of glucose 6-phosphatase could all contribute to the overall action of quercetin.

Histological Changes on Liver Glycogen Storage in Mice (Mus musculus) Caused by Unbalanced Diets

Weight-losing diets have appealed to people who want to lose weight in the short-term. They usually apply high-protein (HP) diets (like Atkin’s, Stillman’s, Scarsdale) which they practice for 2 weeks or so. Unfortunately, these people who have rapid weight loss return to their old habits and quickly regain the weight lost. We have shown in previous work that actually these weight losses have been associated with body fluids, protein and glycogen storage. In our study, we examined the effect of unbalanced diet—related to an HP diet- on liver glycogen storage.

For this study 40 Swiss albino mice consisting of two groups were used. The first group (HPSD) was fed with 25% HP for fifteen days and then were fed standard meals for the remaining 15 days; the other group was fed with standard meals throughout. The two groups were fed their respective diets for 30 days. At the end of 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th days 5 from each group were killed with cervical dislocation. The livers were removed perfused and then fixated.

There were major differences in weight between the first and the fifteenth days. We detected remarkable increase in the weight gain of mice in the remaining 15 days. Glycogen storage was significantly reduced in HPSD (15) stained with PAS. In the others 20th, 25th and 30th days abnormally dense glycogen deposits were observed. Vacuoles in the hepatocyte cytoplasm, brownish deposits within hepatocytes, wide sinusoids, macrovesiculler steatosis structures and hydropic degeneration were observed in PAS and H&E stained HPSD group.

As a result for the HPSD group a significant decrement in glycogen storage at the 15th day and also an accumulation of excessive amounts of glycogen deposits in mice liver was observed in the normal feeding phase.

Hepatic glycogen synthesis in the absence of glucokinase: the case of embryonic liver

Glucokinase (GK, hexokinase type IV) is required for the accumulation of glycogen in adult liver and hepatoma cells. Paradoxically, mammalian embryonic livers store glycogen successfully in the absence of GK. Here we address how mammalian embryonic livers, but not adult livers or hepatoma cells, manage to accumulate glycogen in the absence of this enzyme. Hexokinase type I or II (HKI, HKII) substitutes for GK in hepatomas and in embryonic livers. We engineered FTO2B cells, a hepatoma cell line in which GK is not expressed, to unveil the modifications required to allow them to accumulate glycogen. In the light of these results, we then examined glycogen metabolism in embryonic liver. Glycogen accumulation in FTO2B cells can be triggered through elevated expression of HKI or either of the protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunits, namely PTG or G L. Between these two strategies to activate glycogen deposition in the absence of GK, embryonic livers choose to express massive levels of HKI and HKII. We conclude that although the GK/liver glycogen synthase tandem is ideally suited to store glycogen in liver when blood glucose is high, the substitution of HKI for GK in embryonic livers allows the HKI/liver glycogen synthase tandem to make glycogen independently of the glucose concentration in blood, although it requires huge levels of HK. Moreover, the physiological consequence of the HK isoform switch is that the embryonic liver safeguards its glycogen deposits, required as the main source of energy at birth, from maternal starvation.

Glycogen synthesis by the direct or indirect pathways depends on glucose availability: In vivo studies in frog oocytes

Besides the classic direct route, frog oocytes incorporate glucosyl units into glycogen by the so-called indirect pathway. The operation of both pathways depends on glucose availability. Below 0.5 mM glucose (calculated intracellular concentration), the indirect route accounts for 90% of polysaccharide formation, while the direct pathway supports 70% of total glucose incorporation when administered glucose is above 1.5 mM. A sigmoidal curve was obtained for the direct pathway with n(H)=2.04, and half saturation was reached at 2.6 mM glucose. The curve for the indirect route presented an n(H) of 1.15 and an S(0.5) of 0.9 mM glucose.

Beta-cell secretory dysfunction in the pathogenesis of low birth weight-associated diabetes: a murine model

Low birth weight (LBW) is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. We have developed a mouse model of LBW resulting from undernutrition during pregnancy. Restriction of maternal food intake from day 12.5 to 18.5 of pregnancy results in a 23% decrease in birth weight (P < 0.001), with normalization after birth. However, offspring of undernutrition pregnancies develop progressive, severe glucose intolerance by 6 months. To identify early defects that are responsible for this phenotype, we analyzed mice of undernutrition pregnancies at age 2 months, before the onset of glucose intolerance. Fed insulin levels were 1.7-fold higher in mice of undernutrition pregnancies (P = 0.01 vs. controls). However, insulin sensitivity was normal in mice of undernutrition pregnancies, with normal insulin tolerance, insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, and isolated muscle and adipose glucose uptake. Although insulin clearance was mildly impaired in mice of undernutrition pregnancies, the major metabolic phenotype in young mice of undernutrition pregnancies was dysregulation of insulin secretion. Despite normal beta-cell mass, islets from normoglycemic mice of undernutrition pregnancies showed basal hypersecretion of insulin, complete lack of responsiveness to glucose, and a 2.5-fold increase in hexokinase activity. Taken together, these data suggest that, at least in mice, primary beta-cell dysfunction may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of LBW-associated type 2 diabetes.

HIV protease inhibitors acutely impair glucose-stimulated insulin release

HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) acutely and reversibly inhibit the insulin-responsive glucose transporter Glut 4, leading to peripheral insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. Minimal modeling analysis of glucose tolerance tests on PI-treated patients has revealed an impaired insulin secretory response, suggesting additional pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction. To determine whether beta-cell function is acutely affected by PIs, we assayed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rodent islets and the insulinoma cell line MIN6. Insulin release from MIN6 cells and rodent islets was significantly inhibited by the PI indinavir with IC(50) values of 1.1 and 2.1 micro mol/l, respectively. The uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in MIN6 cells was similarly inhibited (IC(50) of 2.0 micro mol/l), whereas glucokinase activity was unaffected at drug levels as high as 1 mmol/l. Glucose utilization was also impaired at comparable drug levels. Insulin secretogogues acting downstream of glucose transport mostly reversed the indinavir-mediated inhibition of insulin release in MIN6 cells. Intravenous infusion of indinavir during hyperglycemic clamps on rats significantly suppressed the first-phase insulin response. These data suggest that therapeutic levels of PIs are sufficient to impair glucose sensing by beta-cells. Thus, together with peripheral insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction likely contributes to altered glucose homeostasis associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Glucose 6-phosphate produced by gluconeogenesis and by glucokinase is equally effective in activating hepatic glycogen synthase

Glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) produced in cultured hepatocytes by direct phosphorylation of glucose or by gluconeogenesis from dihydroxyacetone (DHA) was equally effective in activating glycogen synthase (GS). However, glycogen accumulation was higher in hepatocytes incubated with glucose than in those treated with DHA. This difference was attributed to decreased futile cycling through GS and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) in the glucose-treated hepatocytes, owing to the partial inactivation of GP induced by glucose. Our results indicate that the gluconeogenic pathway and the glucokinase-mediated phosphorylation of glucose deliver their common product to the same Glc-6-P pool, which is accessible to liver GS. As observed in the treatment with glucose, incubation of cultured hepatocytes with DHA caused the translocation of GS from a uniform cytoplasmic distribution to the hepatocyte periphery and a similar pattern of glycogen deposition. We hypothesize that Glc-6-P has a major role in glycogen metabolism not only by determining the activation state of GS but also by controlling its subcellular distribution in the hepatocyte.

Glucose-regulated glucose uptake by transplanted muscle cells expressing glucokinase counteracts diabetic hyperglycemia

Type 1 diabetic patients depend on insulin replacement therapy. However, chronic hyperglycemia due to failure to maintain proper glycemic control leads to microvascular, macrovascular, and neurological complications. Increased glucose disposal by tissues engineered to overexpress key regulatory genes in glucose transport or phosphorylation can reduce diabetic hyperglycemia. Here we report that differentiated myoblast cells expressing the glucose-phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase (GK) showed a glucose-dependent increase in glucose uptake and utilization in vitro. Transplantation of GK-expressing myotubes into healthy mice did not alter blood glucose levels and recipient mice maintained normoglycemia. After streptozotocin treatment, mice transplanted with GK-expressing myotubes counteracted hyperglycemia, polydipsia, and polyphagia, whereas mice transplanted with control myotubes developed diabetes. Similarly, diabetic mice transplanted with control myotubes remained hyperglycemic. In contrast, transplantation of GK-expressing myotubes into diabetic mice lowered hyperglycemia. These results suggest that the use of genetically engineered muscle cells to express glucokinase may provide a glucose-regulated approach to reduce diabetic hyperglycemia.

Liver glycogen synthase but not the muscle isoform differentiates between glucose 6-phosphate produced by glucokinase or hexokinase

Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into FTO-2B cells, a rat hepatoma cell line, we have overexpressed hexokinase I (HK I), glucokinase (GK), liver glycogen synthase (LGS), muscle glycogen synthase (MGS), and combinations of each of the two glucose-phosphorylating enzymes with each one of the GS isoforms. FTO-2B cells do not synthesize glycogen even when incubated with high doses of glucose. Adenovirus-induced overexpression of HK I and/or LGS, two enzymes endogenously expressed by these cells, did not produce a significant increase in the levels of active GS and the total glycogen content. In contrast, GK overexpression led to the glucose-dependent activation of endogenous or overexpressed LGS and to the accumulation of glycogen. Similarly overexpressed MGS was efficiently activated by the glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) produced by either endogenous or overexpressed HK I and by overexpressed GK. These results indicate the existence of at least two pools of Glc-6-P in the cell, one of them is accessible to both isoforms of GS and is replenished by the action of GK, whereas LGS is excluded from the cellular compartment where the Glc-6-P produced by HK I is directed. These findings are interpreted in terms of the metabolic role that the two pairs of enzymes, HK I-MGS in the muscle and GK-LGS in the hepatocyte, perform in their respective tissues.

Glucose and glycogen catabolism in perfused livers of Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats and the response to hormones

The alterations in hepatic glucose and glycogen catabolism were evaluated in rats bearing the Walker-256 tumor. Food intake was monitored concomitantly with measurements of the in vivo hepatic glycogen levels. Glycogenolysis, glycolysis and oxygen uptake were measured in the isolated perfused liver. The hepatic glucose phosphorylating capacity was measured in the high-speed supernatant fraction of liver homogenates. Food intake was 21.4% reduced in tumor-bearing rats; the glycogen levels were decreased by 63.6%. Initial basal rates of glucose release (glycogenolysis) and lactate+pyruvate production from endogenous glycogen (glycolysis) in the perfused liver were not changed by the tumor-bearing state, resulting in a higher relative rate of glycogen breakdown (% of glycogen degradation per unit time). In absolute terms stimulation of glycogen mobilization by glucagon or norepinephrine was smaller in the tumor-bearing state. The percentage of extra glycogen degradation per unit time caused by both hormones, however, was practically the same in the control and in the tumor-bearing state. The hepatic glucose phosphorylating capacity was reduced from 3.92+/-0.39 nmolmin(-1)(mgprotein)(-1) in normal rats to 2.61+/-0.23 nmolmin(-1)(mgprotein)(-1) in livers from tumor-bearing rats. Glycolysis from exogenous glucose (20 mM) in perfused livers was diminished from 0.136+/-0.023 &mgr;molmin(-1)(gliver)(-1) in normal rats to 0.046+/-0.008 &mgr;molmin(-1)(gliver)(-1) in tumor-bearing rats. It can be concluded that livers from rats bearing the Walker-256 tumor are less able to transform glucose and accumulate glycogen while possessing a greater tendency of releasing glucose from the glycogen stores.

Increased glucose disposal induced by adenovirus-mediated transfer of glucokinase to skeletal muscle in vivo

In non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is impaired in muscle, contributing in a major way to development of hyperglycemia. We previously showed that expression of the glucose phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase (GK) in cultured human myocytes improved glucose storage and disposal, suggesting that GK delivery to muscle in situ could potentially enhance glucose clearance. Here we have tested this idea directly by intramuscular delivery of an adenovirus containing the liver GK cDNA (AdCMV-GKL) into one hind limb. We injected an adenovirus containing the beta-galactosidase gene (AdCMV-lacZ) into the hind limb of newborn rats. beta-Galactosidase activity was localized in muscle for as long as 1 month after delivery, with a large percentage of fibers staining positive in the gastrocnemius. Using the same approach with AdCMV-GKL, GK protein content was increased from zero to 50-400% of the GK in normal liver sample, and total glucose phosphorylating activity was increased in GK-expressing muscles relative to the counterpart uninfected muscle. Expression of GK in muscle improved glucose tolerance rather than changing basal glycemic control. Glucose levels were reduced by approximately 35% 10 min after administration of a glucose bolus to fed animals treated with AdCMV-GKL relative to AdCMV-lacZ-treated controls. The enhanced rate of glucose clearance was reflected in increases in muscle 2-deoxy glucose uptake and blood lactate levels. We conclude that restricted expression of GK in muscle leads to an enhanced capacity for muscle glucose disposal and whole body glucose tolerance under conditions of maximal glucose-insulin stimulation, suggesting that under these conditions glucose phosphorylation becomes rate-limiting. Our findings also show that gene delivery to a fraction of the whole body is sufficient to improve glucose disposal, providing a rationale for the development of new therapeutic strategies for treatment of diabetes.-Jiménez-Chillarón, J. C., Newgard, C. B., Gómez-Foix, A. M. Increased glucose disposal induced by adenovirus-mediated transfer of glucokinase to skeletal muscle in vivo.

Glucokinase overexpression restores glucose utilization and storage in cultured hepatocytes from male Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Zucker diabetic fatty rats develop type 2 diabetes concomitantly with peripheral insulin resistance. Hepatocytes from these rats and their control lean counterparts have been cultured, and a number of key parameters of glucose metabolism have been determined. Glucokinase activity was 4.5-fold lower in hepatocytes from diabetic rats than in hepatocytes from healthy ones. In contrast, hexokinase activity was about 2-fold higher in hepatocytes from diabetic animals than in healthy ones. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was not significantly different. Despite the altered ratios of glucokinase to hexokinase activity, intracellular glucose 6-phosphate concentrations were similar in the two types of cells when they where incubated with 1-25 mM glucose. However, glycogen levels and glycogen synthase activity ratio were lower in hepatocytes from diabetic animals. Total pyruvate kinase activity and its activity ratio as well as fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration and lactate production were also lower in cells from diabetic animals. All of these data indicate that glucose metabolism is clearly impaired in hepatocytes from Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Glucokinase overexpression using adenovirus restored glucose metabolism in diabetic hepatocytes. In glucokinase-overexpressing cells, glucose 6-phosphate levels increased. Moreover, glycogen deposition was greatly enhanced due to the activation of glycogen synthase. Pyruvate kinase was also activated, and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate concentration and lactate production were increased in glucokinase-overexpressing diabetic hepatocytes. Overexpression of hexokinase I did not increase glycogen deposition. In conclusion, hepatocytes from Zucker diabetic fatty rats showed depressed glycogen and glycolytic metabolism, but glucokinase overexpression improved their glucose utilization and storage.

Modulation of glucose transport in fetal rat lung: a sexual dimorphism

Male fetuses exhibit delayed lung maturation and surfactant production in comparison with female fetuses. This delay may be related to sex hormone effects: estrogen enhances and androgens delay lung development. The uptake of glucose, an important precursor for surfactant synthesis, may be differently affected by estrogen and androgens. In these studies we determined the effects of these two hormones on glucose transport (glucose uptake, glucose transporter [Glut] 1 protein, and mRNA) and hexokinase activity in lung tissue of fetal rats. On Day 20 of gestation (term = 21.5 d) lung tissue was harvested from female and male fetal rats, minced into explants, and cultured for 24 h. Basal glucose uptake, measured in the absence of sex hormones, was 37% higher (P < 0.05) in female compared with male lungs. Explants were washed and cultured for an additional 3 h or 24 h in either estradiol or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at 0, 1, 10, or 100 nM. Twenty-four-hour treatment with estradiol in both male and female explants increase 2-deoxyglucose uptake, Glut 1 protein, and mRNA levels (P < 0.05). However, explants from male fetuses were not as responsive to estradiol treatment as were those from females (P < 0.05). Treatment for 24 h with DHT decreased 2-deoxyglucose uptake, Glut 1 protein, and mRNA levels in females and males (P < 0.05). There was no difference in response between females and males. Short-term incubation (3 h) with sex hormones had no effect on glucose uptake. However, 3-h treatment with estradiol did increase Glut 1 mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Hexokinase activity was not affected by estradiol or DHT treatment. These findings indicate that estradiol and DHT differentially regulate glucose uptake in fetal rat lung tissue. This regulation of substrate supply (glucose) by estradiol and DHT may be another mechanism for the sexual dimorphism observed in lung development and surfactant synthesis.

Metabolic impact of adenovirus-mediated overexpression of the glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit in hepatocytes

Glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucose 6-phosphate (Glu-6-P) to free glucose and, as the last step in gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in liver, is thought to play an important role in glucose homeostasis. G6Pase activity appears to be conferred by a set of proteins localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, including a glucose-6-phosphate translocase, a G6Pase phosphohydrolase or catalytic subunit, and glucose and inorganic phosphate transporters in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. In the current study, we used a recombinant adenovirus containing the cDNA encoding the G6Pase catalytic subunit (AdCMV-G6Pase) to evaluate the metabolic impact of overexpression of the enzyme in primary hepatocytes. We found that AdCMV-G6Pase-treated liver cells contain significantly less glycogen and Glu-6-P, but unchanged UDP-glucose levels, relative to control cells. Further, the glycogen synthase activity state was closely correlated with Glu-6-P levels over a wide range of glucose concentrations in both G6Pase-overexpressing and control cells. The reduction in glycogen synthesis in AdCMV-G6Pase-treated hepatocytes is therefore not a function of decreased substrate availability but rather occurs because of the regulatory effects of Glu-6-P on glycogen synthase activity. We also found that AdCMV-G6Pase-treated-cells had significantly lower rates of lactate production and [3-3H]glucose usage, coupled with enhanced rates of gluconeogenesis and Glu-6-P hydrolysis. We conclude that overexpression of the G6Pase catalytic subunit alone is sufficient to activate flux through the G6Pase system in liver cells. Further, hepatocytes treated with AdCMV-G6Pase exhibit a metabolic profile resembling that of liver cells from patients or animals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, suggesting that dysregulation of the catalytic subunit of G6Pase could contribute to the etiology of the disease.

Engineering of glycerol-stimulated insulin secretion in islet beta cells. Differential metabolic fates of glucose and glycerol provide insight into mechanisms of stimulus-secretion coupling

Insulin secretion from beta cells in the islets of Langerhans can be stimulated by a number of metabolic fuels, including glucose and glyceraldehyde, and is thought to be mediated by metabolism of the secretagogues and an attendant increase in the ATP:ADP ratio. Curiously, glycerol fails to stimulate insulin secretion, even though it has been reported that islets contain abundant glycerol kinase activity and oxidize glycerol efficiently. We have reinvestigated this point and find that rat islets and the well differentiated insulinoma cell line INS-1 contain negligible glycerol kinase activity. A recombinant adenovirus containing the bacterial glycerol kinase gene (AdCMV-GlpK) was constructed and used to express the enzyme in islets and INS-1 cells, resulting in insulin secretion in response to glycerol. In AdCMV-GlpK-treated INS-1 cells a greater proportion of glycerol is converted to lactate and a lesser proportion is oxidized compared with glucose. The two fuels are equally potent as insulin secretagogues, despite the fact that oxidation of glycerol at its maximally effective dose (2-5 mM) occurs at a rate that is similar to the rate of glucose oxidation at its basal, nonstimulatory concentration (3 mM). We also investigated the possibility that glycerol may signal via expansion of the glycerol phosphate pool to allow enhanced fatty acid esterification and formation of complex lipids. Addition of Triacsin-C, an inhibitor of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, to AdCMV-GlpK-treated INS-1 cells did not inhibit glycerol-stimulated insulin secretion despite the fact that it blocked glycerol incorporation into cellular lipids. We conclude from these studies that glycerol kinase expression is sufficient to activate glycerol signaling in beta cells, showing that the failure of normal islets to respond to this substrate is due to a lack of this enzyme activity. Further, our studies show that glycerol signaling is not linked to esterification or oxidation of the substrate, but is likely mediated by its metabolism in the glycerol phosphate shuttle and/or the distal portion of the glycolytic pathway, either of which can lead to production of ATP and an increased ATP:ADP ratio.

Overexpressed syntaxin 1A/HPC-1 inhibits insulin secretion via a regulated pathway, but does not influence glucose metabolism and intracellular Ca2+ in insulinoma cell line beta TC3 cells

We have previously established a stable beta TC3 cell line that overexpresses syntaxin 1A, designated beta TC-hpc1 cells, in which glucose-stimulated insulin release was decreased. Using beta TC-hpc1 cells, we aimed to determine whether syntaxin 1A functions in the regulatory or constitutive pathway of insulin release. We therefore examined the secretion of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated newly synthesized proinsulin/insulin and total immunoreactive insulin. beta TC3 and beta TC-hpc1 cells were simultaneously pulse-labeled with 3H-leucine for 30 min in 11 mM glucose and chased for 1 h in one of a number of different concentrations of TPA in 11 mM glucose. Total immunoreactive insulin release (IRI) by both cell types during the chase period was markedly increased by the addition of TPA in a dose-dependent manner; however, the IRI from beta TC-hpc1 cells was lower than that from beta TC3 cells. The secretion of newly synthesized proinsulin/insulin from both cell types, which in beta TC3 cells is thought to occur via a constitutive pathway, was in the same range under any condition. Thus, the evidence indicates that syntaxin 1A preferentially functions in the regulated insulin release pathway in beta TC3 cells. In order to clarify the effect of overexpressed syntaxin 1A on glucose metabolism and intracellular Ca2+ we analyzed the glucose transport system, glucose phosphorylation activity, and cytosolic concentration of free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). 2-Deoxy-glucose uptake and the content of GLUT1 protein in the plasma membrane fractions of beta TC-hpc1 cells were not different from those of beta TC3 cells. Radiometric assays of glucose phosphorylation activity showed that there were no differences in hexokinase activity and glucokinase activity between beta TC3 and beta TC-hpc1 cells. [Ca2+]i measured by using fura 2 demonstrated that there was no difference in [Ca2+]i between beta TC3 and beta TC-hpc 1 cells under glucose-stimulated conditions. The present experiments indicate that syntaxin 1A plays a central role in a late step of the regulatory insulin release pathway without a change in glucose metabolism and [Ca2+]i in beta TC3 cells.

Glucose 6-phosphate produced by glucokinase, but not hexokinase I, promotes the activation of hepatic glycogen synthase

In a previous study (O'Doherty, R. M., Lehman, D. L., Seoane, J., Gómez-Foix, A. M., Guinovart, J. J., and Newgard, C.B. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 20524-20530), we demonstrated that adenovirus-mediated overexpression of glucokinase but not hexokinase I has a potent enhancing effect on glycogen synthesis in primary hepatocytes. In an effort to understand the underlying mechanism of this differential effect of the two hexokinase isoforms, we have investigated changes in key intracellular metabolites and the activation state of glycogen synthase in cells treated with recombinant adenoviruses expressing the liver isoform of glucokinase (AdCMV-GKL) or hexokinase I (AdCMV-HKI). Glucose 6-phosphate (Glu-6-P) levels are elevated from approximately 1.5 nmol/mg protein to 8-10 nmol/mg protein in both AdCMV-GKL- and AdCMV-HKI-treated hepatocytes as glucose is raised from 1 to 5 mM, levels four times higher than those in untreated cells. In AdCMV-GKL-treated cells, Glu-6-P continues to accumulate at glucose levels greater than 5 mM, reaching a maximum of 120 nmol/mg protein in cells incubated at 25 mM glucose, a value 10 and 50 times greater than the maximal levels achieved in AdCMV-HKI-treated and untreated cells, respectively. In parallel with the changes observed in Glu-6-P levels, increases in UDP-Glc in AdCMV-HKI- and AdCMV-GKL-treated cells were most pronounced at low (1-5 mM) and high (25 mM) glucose levels, respectively. Despite the significant increases in Glu-6-P and UDP-Glc achieved in AdCMV-HKI-treated cells, only AdCMV-GKL-treated cells exhibited increases in glycogen synthase activity ratio and translocation of the enzyme from a soluble to a particulate form relative to untreated control cells. We conclude that Glu-6-P produced by overexpressed glucokinase is glycogenic because it effectively promotes activation of glycogen synthase. Glu-6-P produced by overexpressed hexokinase, in contrast, appears to be unable to exert the same regulatory effects, probably due to the different subcellular distribution of the two glucose-phosphorylating enzymes.

Differential metabolic effects of adenovirus-mediated glucokinase and hexokinase I overexpression in rat primary hepatocytes

The first step of glucose metabolism is the phosphorylation of glucose, catalyzed by the hexokinase family of enzymes. To address the metabolic impact of increasing glucose phosphorylation capacity in liver, rat primary hepatocytes were treated with recombinant adenoviruses containing the cDNAs encoding either rat liver glucokinase (AdCMV-GKL) or rat hexokinase I (AdCMV-HKI). Maximal glucose phosphorylation in AdCMV-GKL- and AdCMV-HKI-treated hepatocytes was increased 7.1 +/- 1.2- and 6.3 +/- 0.8-fold, respectively, over hepatocytes treated with an adenovirus expressing beta-galactosidase. Glucose usage (measured with 3 and 20 m 2-[3H]glucose and 5-[3H]glucose) was significantly increased in AdCMV-GKL-treated cells preincubated in 1 or 25 mM glucose. Treatment of hepatocytes with AdCMV-HKI also caused enhanced glucose utilization, but the increases were smaller and were less apparent in cells preincubated in high (25 mM) glucose. AdCMV-GKL-treated hepatocytes incubated for 48 h in the presence of variable glucose concentrations had glycogen levels that were maximally 15.0 +/- 0. 6-fold greater than levels in corresponding control cells. AdCMV-HKI-treated hepatocytes incubated under similar conditions had unchanged glycogen levels relative to controls. In AdCMV-GKL-treated cells, lactate output was increased to a maximum of 3.0 +/- 0.4-fold (at 25 mM glucose), glucose oxidation was increased 3.5 +/- 0.3-fold, and triglyceride production was unchanged relative to untreated cells. Among these three parameters, only lactate production was increased in AdCMV-HKI-treated cells, and then only at low glucose concentrations. We conclude that overexpression of glucokinase has potent effects on glucose storage and utilization in hepatocytes and that these effects are not matched by overexpression of hexokinase I.

Effect of glucose on uptake of radiolabeled glucose, 2-DG, and 3-O-MG by the perfused rat liver

In the transition from the fasting to the fed state, plasma glucose levels rise, and the liver converts from an organ producing glucose to one of storage. To determine the effect of glucose on hepatic glucose uptake, radiolabeled glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, and 3-O-methylglucose were injected into perfused rat livers during different nontracer glucose levels, and the concentrations in the outflow were measured. A mathematical model was developed that described the behavior of the injected compounds as they traveled through the liver and was used to simulate and fit the experimental results. The rates of membrane transport, glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and the consumption of glucose 6-phosphate were estimated. Membrane transport for all of the tracers decreased as nontracer glucose increased, demonstrating competitive inhibition of the glucose transporter. In contrast, the consumption of injected [2-14C]glucose increased when glucose was elevated, demonstrating that glucose caused an activation of enzyme activity that overcame the competitive inhibition of transport and phosphorylation. When glucose was elevated, the rate coefficient of glucokinase did not decrease, indicating that glucokinase was stimulated by glucose. Both changes would lead to the increased glycogen synthesis and decreased glucose production rate observed in vivo during the fasted-to-fed transition.

Differential effects of overexpressed glucokinase and hexokinase I in isolated islets. Evidence for functional segregation of the high and low Km enzymes

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is believed to require metabolism of the sugar via a high Km pathway in which glucokinase (hexokinase IV) is rate-limiting. In this study, we have used recombinant adenoviruses to overexpress the liver and islet isoforms of glucokinase as well as low Km hexokinase I in isolated rat islets of Langerhans. Glucose phosphorylating activity increased by up to 20-fold in extracts from islets treated with adenoviruses containing the cDNAs encoding either tissue isoform of glucokinase, but such cells exhibited no increase in 2- or 5-[3H]glucose usage, lactate production, glycogen content, or glucose oxidation. Furthermore, glucokinase overexpression enhanced insulin secretion in response to stimulatory glucose or glucose plus arginine by only 36-53% relative to control islets. In contrast to the minimal effects of overexpressed glucokinases, overexpression of hexokinase I caused a 2.5-4-fold enhancement in all metabolic parameters except glycogen content when measured at a basal glucose concentration (3 mM). Based on measurement of glucose phosphorylation in intact cells, overexpressed glucokinase is clearly active in a non-islet cell line (CV-1) but not within islet cells. That this result cannot be ascribed to the levels of glucokinase regulatory protein in islets is shown by direct measurement of its activity and mRNA. These data provide evidence for functional partitioning of glucokinase and hexokinase and suggest that overexpressed glucokinase must interact with factors found in limiting concentration in the islet cell in order to become activated and engage in productive metabolic signaling.

Glucose transporter expression and functional role of hexokinase in insulin biosynthesis in mouse beta TC3 cells

It was previously reported that insulin biosynthesis in mouse beta TC3 cells was regulated by glucose (Nagamatsu, S., and D. F. Steiner. Endocrinology 130: 748-754, 1992). In the present study, we examined the effect of glucose on the glucose transporter expression and hexokinase activities and determined the relationship between them and glucose-stimulated insulin biosynthesis in beta TC3 cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis revealed that beta TC3 cells expressed GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 glucose transporter mRNAs, but not GLUT-2. The levels of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 mRNAs were not affected by glucose (0 or 11 mM glucose) over a period of 48 h. Immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled beta TC3 cells with specific antibodies against GLUT-1 or GLUT-3 proteins revealed no effect of glucose on the biosynthesis of glucose transporters. Hexokinase [low Michaelis constant (Km) hexokinase] activity from cells incubated in 11 mM glucose for 48 h increased nearly twofold compared with cells maintained in 0 mM glucose, although the amount of cellular hexokinase protein detected by immunoblot analysis was unchanged between 0 and 11 mM glucose conditions. Glucokinase (high Km hexokinase) activity, in contrast, was not affected by glucose. Preincubation of beta TC3 cells with 2-deoxyglucose to inhibit hexokinase, thereby inhibiting all glycolysis, resulted in the decrease of glucose-stimulated insulin biosynthesis. Thus, in mouse beta TC3 cells that do not express GLUT-2, there is a close relationship between hexokinase activity and glucose-stimulated insulin biosynthesis, but not between the glucose transporter and glucose-stimulated insulin biosynthesis.

Pancreatic beta-cells in obesity. Evidence for induction of functional, morphologic, and metabolic abnormalities by increased long chain fatty acids

To elucidate the mechanism of the basal hyperinsulinemia of obesity, we perfused pancreata from obese Zucker and lean Wistar rats with substimulatory concentrations of glucose. Insulin secretion at 4.2 and 5.6 mM glucose was approximately 10 times that of controls, whereas beta-cell volume fraction was increased only 4-fold and DNA per islet 3.5-fold. We therefore compared glucose usage at 1.4, 2.8, and 5.6 mM. Usage was 8-11.4 times greater in Zucker islets at 1.4 and 2.8 mM and 4 times greater at 5.6 mM; glucose oxidation at 2.8 and 5.6 mM glucose was > 12 times lean controls. To determine if the high free fatty acid (FFA) levels of obesity induce these abnormalities, normal Wistar islets were cultured with 0, 1, or 2 mM long chain FFA for 7 days. Compared to islets cultured without FFA insulin secretion by FFA-cultured islets (2 mM) perifused with 1.4, 3, or 5.6 mM glucose was increased more than 2-fold, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation was increased 3-fold, and glucose usage at 2.8 and 5.6 mM glucose was increased approximately 2-fold (1 mM FFA) and 3-fold (2 mM FFA). We conclude that hypersecretion of insulin by islets of obese Zucker fatty rats is associated with, and probably caused by, enhanced low Km glucose metabolism and beta-cell hyperplasia, abnormalities that can be induced in normal islets by increased FFA.

Effect of hepatectomy on glucose metabolism in the dog

The response of whole-body glucose uptake and oxidation and hindlimb glucose and lactate balance was investigated using the hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp in 12 sham-operated control dogs and 10 hepatectomized dogs. A combination of radioactive (NaH14CO3) and stable (U-13C-glucose) isotope tracers was used to quantify glucose kinetics and oxidation. The insulin concentration was increased to approximately 5,000 microU/mL. Mean glucose uptake rates across the hindlimb were similar, 7.72 and 8.06 mumol.kg-1.min-1 for hepatectomy and sham-operated groups, respectively. Lactate release across the hindlimb also showed no significant differences between the two groups. Therefore, it was concluded that the liver did not affect peripheral glucose uptake in response to supramaximal insulin infusion under these experimental conditions. On the other hand, the mean glucose infusion rate during the last 60 minutes of the insulin clamp in the hepatectomy group was significantly decreased compared with that in the sham-operated group, 57.11 versus 46.29 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively (P < .05). Consequently, the maximal capacity of the liver of the anesthetized dog to clear glucose in response to supramaximal insulin infusion appears to be approximately 10.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1, which is about 20% of the total glucose infused. Isotopic data showed that most hepatic glucose uptake was oxidized. In contrast, most peripheral glucose uptake appeared to be stored as glycogen.

A protein from rat liver confers to glucokinase the property of being antagonistically regulated by fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1-phosphate

At a concentration of 1 mM, fructose 1-phosphate stimulated about twofold, and glucose 6-phosphate inhibited by about 30%, the phosphorylation of 5 mM glucose in high-speed supernatants prepared from rat liver or from isolated hepatocytes, but did not affect, or barely so, the activity of a partially purified preparation of glucokinase. Anion-exchange chromatography of liver extracts separated glucokinase from a fructose-6-phosphate-sensitive and fructose-1-phosphate-sensitive inhibitor of that enzyme. This inhibitor could be further purified by chromatography on phospho-Ultrogel. It was destroyed by trypsin and was heat-labile. It inhibited glucokinase competitively with respect to glucose and its inhibitory effect was greatly reinforced by fructose 6-phosphate although not by glucose 6-phosphate. Fructose 1-phosphate relieved the enzyme of the inhibitory effect of the regulator and antagonised the effect of fructose 6-phosphate in a competitive manner. It is concluded that the regulator plays a role in the physiological control of the activity of glucokinase, particularly with respect to the stimulatory effect of fructose in isolated hepatocytes (see preceding paper in this journal).

Effects of flow rate and insulin on triacylglycerol secretion by perfused rat liver

In rat livers perfused with undiluted rat blood at perfusion rates of 6, 12, or 18 ml/min, hepatic O2 consumption rose with blood flow. Lipogenesis was unaffected by blood flow in control livers and was enhanced by insulin at 12 and 18 ml/min. Very-low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerol secretion also rose with increased flow and was stimulated by insulin at both 6 and 12 ml/min. When glucose was added to livers perfused at 12 or 18 ml/min, uptake was independent of perfusion rate and was slightly stimulated by insulin. Total lipogenesis and the secretion of newly synthesized fatty acids in very-low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerols were unaffected by insulin at either flow rate. The hormone stimulated triacylglycerol secretion at 18 ml/min but inhibited it at 12 ml/min. It seems that in perfused liver, effects of insulin on lipogenesis and very-low-density lipoprotein secretion may be modified not only by changes in O2 consumption (in this case through alterations in blood flow) but also by the choice of substrate.

Glycogen synthesis via the indirect gluconeogenic pathway in the periportal and via the direct glucose utilizing pathway in the perivenous zone of perfused rat liver

The isolated liver from 24 h fasted rats was perfused in a non-recirculating manner in the ortho- and retrograde direction with erythrocyte-containing (20% v/v) media to provide adequate oxygenation of the liver. Glucose and/or gluconeogenic precursors were added as substrates. Glycogen formation was determined biochemically and demonstrated histochemically. With glucose as the sole exogenous substrate glycogen was deposited in the perivenous area, with gluconeogenic precursors it was formed in the periportal zone during ortho- and retrograde flow. When glucose and gluconeogenic compounds were offered together, glycogen was deposited in both zones. The results corroborate the model of metabolic zonation predicting that periportal glycogen is synthesized indirectly from gluconeogenic precursors while perivenous glycogen is formed directly from glucose.

Glycogen synthesis from pyruvate in the periportal and from glucose in the perivenous zone in perfused livers from fasted rats

The isolated liver of 24 h fasted rats was perfused in a non-recirculating manner in the orthograde or retrograde direction with media containing glucose and/or gluconeogenic precursors. Glycogen formation was determined biochemically and demonstrated histochemically. With glucose as the only exogenous substrate glycogen was formed exclusively in the perivenous area during both orthograde and retrograde perfusion. With gluconeogenic precursors as the exogenous substrates glycogen was deposited in the periportal zone during orthograde perfusion and in the intermediate zone during retrograde perfusion. Supply of glucose and gluconeogenic substrates initiated glycogen synthesis only in the upstream region, i.e. in the periportal zone during orthograde and in the perivenous zone during retrograde perfusion. This localization of glycogen synthesis was probably due to an unavoidable, insufficient oxygen supply of the respective downstream area. In general, the results confirm the hypothesis that periportal and perivenous glycogen was synthesized from different substrates.

Differential effect of steady-state hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia on hepatic glycogenolysis and glycolysis in rats

The action of glucose and of insulin on hepatic glucose production and metabolism has been studied in fed anaesthetized rats during hyperinsulinaemic clamp combined with various steady state levels of glycaemia (6.8 +/- 0.1, 9.3 +/- 0.1, 11.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l). Hepatic glucose production was measured using constant infusion of D-[6-3H] glucose. At the end of each clamp the liver was freeze clamped, and enzyme activities and metabolites were measured. Hepatic glucose production was totally suppressed in all the groups receiving insulin. In the group with steady-state normoglycaemia, the suppression of hepatic glucose production was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of glucose-6-phosphate, an increase in those of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and glycolytic intermediates, but without change in glycogen level or glycogen synthase and phosphorylase. In contrast, in the groups with steady-state hyperglycaemia, phosphorylase a was inactivated, and glycogen synthase activated. Under these conditions, glucose-6-phosphate levels were also decreased and those of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and glycolytic intermediates were higher than in the group with steady-state normoglycaemia. A slight drop in the level of cAMP was also observed which may contribute, with hyperglycaemia, to the inactivation of phosphorylase. Incorporation of tritiated water into liver glycogen paralleled the activation of glycogen synthase and the accumulation of glycogen. The data indicate that, at normoglycaemia, insulin may suppress hepatic glucose production by channeling glucose-6-phosphate into the glycolytic pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Factors underlying significant underestimations of glucokinase activity in crude liver extracts: physiological implications of higher cellular activity

M. Kuwajima, C. B. Newgard, D. W. Foster, and J. D. McGarry (1986, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 8849-8853) have concluded that the reason postprandial hepatic glycogenesis occurs primarily from gluconeogenic precursors rather than glucose is because glucokinase activity is insufficient to support the observed rates of glycogen synthesis. F. L. Alvares and R. C. Nordlie (1977, J. Biol. Chem. 252, 8404-8414) have concluded that the combined activities of glucokinase and hexokinase are less than the apparent rates of hepatic glucose uptake. We have identified several factors in the assays used in these studies which lead to substantial underestimations of glucokinase activity. Glucokinase was assayed either by allowing glucose 6-phosphate to accumulate over 10 min (discontinuous assay) or by coupling the formation of glucose 6-phosphate with its oxidation by Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NAD (continuous assay). Accurate determinations of glucokinase at 37 degrees C with subsaturating glucose require both 100 mM KCl and 2.5 mM dithioerythritol in the assay medium; 2-mercaptoethanol will not substitute for dithioerythritol. When both KCl and dithioerythritol are absent (Kuwajima et al.) glucokinase activity is underestimated by 3- to 5-fold. The discontinuous assay as used previously (Alvares and Nordlie) underestimates glucokinase activity in crude extracts by 2- to 2.5-fold, due in part to the hydrolysis of glucose 6-phosphate and its transformation to other hexose monophosphates. Under optimized conditions at 37 degrees C both assays yield similar results in extracts from fed rats, i.e., 2-3 and 4-5 units/g liver at 10 and 100 mM glucose, respectively. Some implications of the finding that total hepatic glucose phosphorylating capacity at physiological concentrations significantly exceeds the observed rates of postprandial glycogen synthesis are discussed.