Gluconeogenesis by isolated guinea-pig liver parenchymal cells

Age-associated alterations in hepatic beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase complex

The effect of age on catecholamine regulation of hepatic glycogenolysis and on hepatic adenylate cyclase was studied in male rats up to 24 mo of age. Epinephrine and norepinephrine stimulated glycogenolysis in isolated hepatocytes at all age groups studied. Isoproterenol, however, stimulated glycogenolysis only at 24 mo. In isolated liver membranes, usual activators of adenylate cyclase increased the activity of the enzyme considerably more in membranes from 24-mo-old rats than in membranes from either 3- or 21-mo-old rats. The Mn2+-dependent activity of the cyclase was increased by 2.9-fold in 3-mo-old animals and approximately 5.7-fold in 24-mo-old rats, indicating a substantial age-dependent increase in the intrinsic activity of the catalytic unit. The density of the beta-adrenergic receptor, as measured by the binding of [125I]-iodocyanopindolol to plasma membranes, was 5-8 fmol/mg protein in rats aged 3-12 mo but increased to 19 fmol/mg protein in 24-mo-old rats. Computer-aided analysis of isoproterenol competition of the binding indicated a small age-dependent increase (from 30% at 3 mo to 43% at 24 mo) in the proportion of beta-receptors in the high-affinity state. These observations suggest that beta-receptor-mediated hepatic glycogenolysis in the aged rat is predicated upon increases in the density of beta-receptors as well as increased intrinsic activity of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase.

Gluconeogenic and lipogenic properties of isolated kidney tubules from the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)

Isolated kidney tubules synthesize glucose actively from fructose, lactate, glycerol and pyruvate and, to a lesser extent, from a variety of amino acids. Ethanol stimulated gluconeogenesis from pyruvate and inhibited it from lactate. The aminotransferase inhibitor, aminooxyacetate, greatly reduced synthesis from lactate but not from pyruvate. Quinolinate inhibited gluconeogenesis from both precursors, indicating an active role for cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the gluconeogenic pathway. Incorporation of lactate or glucose into triglycerides was relatively low, and since no fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity could be detected, probably represented chain elongation or reesterification.

The effect of ethanol or sorbitol on glucose production from pyruvate in isolated hepatocytes from 48-hour fasted guinea-pigs

Hepatocytes isolated from 48-hour, fasted guinea-pigs were incubated with glucose precursors to compare relative rates of glucose production. Glucose production from lactate and pyruvate was similar (2.61 vs 3.18 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight). Glucose production from fructose was greater than that from sorbitol (4.68 vs 1.63 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight). When ethanol was added to pyruvate-containing buffer, the flux of pyruvate to glucose and lactate was synergistically enhanced (5.28 vs 3.76 and 7.51 vs 2.88 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight, respectively). When sorbitol was added to buffer containing pyruvate, glucose and lactate production were even greater than that seen with ethanol (8.32 vs 5.38 and 15.99 vs 7.51 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight, respectively).

Effect of protein intake on amino acid catabolism and gluconeogenesis by isolated hepatocytes from the cat (Felis domestica)

Cats were fed 17.5% (LP) and 70% (HP) diets and hepatocytes were prepared from them. Rates of gluconeogenesis from pyruvate, alanine and threonine (10 mM) were unaffected by protein intake but 10 mM glutamine was converted faster by cells from HP fed animals. Rates of oxidation of alanine, threonine and glutamine and flux rates of tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase were greater in cells from HP fed cats at all amino acid concentrations used. Proteolysis was indicated by urea production which was higher in cells from HP fed cats but was reduced significantly by leupeptin.

Adrenergic regulation of glycogenolysis in isolated guinea-pig hepatocytes: evidence that beta 2-receptors mediate catecholamine stimulation of glycogenolysis

Glycogenolysis in hepatocytes isolated from fed guinea pigs was much more enhanced by the beta-agonist, isoproterenol, than by equimolar concentrations of the alpha-agonists, phenylephrine and norepinephrine. The stimulatory effects of catecholamines occurred with the following order of potency: isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine. This order of potency is characteristic of beta 2-adrenergic receptors. That beta 2-receptors are responsible for mediating catecholamine stimulation of glycogenolysis in guinea-pig hepatocytes was further deduced from the inhibition of agonist-stimulated glycogenolysis by beta-receptor sub-type-selective antagonists. Thus, IPS 339, a beta-antagonist which has higher affinity at beta 2-sites than at beta 1-sites, was three orders of magnitude more potent in inhibiting isoproterenol-stimulated glycogenolysis than either atenolol or practolol, both of which are beta 1-selective antagonists. The beta 2-agonists zinterol and procaterol also stimulated glycogenolysis in hepatocytes and their effects were inhibited by propranolol and IPS 339, but not by practolol. Furthermore, activation of phosphorylase in these hepatocytes by isoproterenol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine also occurred with the potency order expected for beta 2-receptors. These results are in sharp contrast to those obtained with rat hepatocytes and emphasize that species differences occur in the regulation of hepatic glycogenolysis by catecholamines.

The hepatocyte primary culture/DNA repair assay using mouse or hamster hepatocytes

The hepatocyte primary culture (HPC)/DNA repair assay using rat hepatocytes was developed to identify genotoxic chemicals. Since there are species differences in susceptibility to chemical carcinogens, it was desirable to extend the assay to other species. Carcinogens and noncarcinogens from six structural classes were tested with hepatocytes from B6C3F1 mice or Syrian hamsters. In hepatocytes from both species, DNA repair was elicited by the carcinogens methyl methanesulfonate, aflatoxin B1, 2-acetylaminofluorene, benzo(a)pyrene, dimethylnitrosamine, nitrosopyrrolidine, 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene, and p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. With aflatoxin B1, mouse hepatocytes required a dose of 10(-4) M for a maximum response while only 10(-6) was needed for hamster hepatocytes. All the presumed noncarcinogens, except 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-sulfonyl chloride, were negative in mouse hepatocytes. This chemical, as well as aflatoxin G2 and pyrene, which have not been tested for carcinogenicity in the hamster, were positive in hamster hepatocytes. These findings demonstrate that genotoxic chemicals can be identified by the HPC/DNA repair assay using hamster or mouse hepatocytes. Furthermore, in vivo differences in susceptibility to chemical carcinogens such as aflatoxin B1 are reflected in the in vitro assay.

Primary cultures and the levels of cytochrome P450 in hepatocytes from mouse, rat, hamster, and rabbit liver

Hepatocyte primary cultures (HPC) derived from rat, mouse, hamster, and rabbit liver were characterized for a variety of parameters. The conditions that maximized recovery, attachment, and survival varied between species. Hepatocytes from all four species were capable of attaching in serum-free Williams' medium E (WME), but optimal attachment as monolayer cultures was achieved for mouse and hamster HPC in medium receiving 1% calf serum supplementation. Hamster hepatocytes required additional cations, whereas rabbit and rat hepatocytes displayed maximal attachment in medium supplemented with 10% calf serum. Survival of mouse and rabbit hepatocytes after 24 h in serum supplemented media was in the order of 90%. Rat and hamster hepatocyte 24 h survival was approximately 70 and 60%, respectively, and was not significantly affected by serum supplementation. Hepatocytes from each species varied in their content of cytochrome P450 at the time of isolation and in the rate of reduction during culture. Mouse and rat hepatocytes demonstrated the most rapid decline in content during the initial 24 h in culture, whereas concentrations in rabbit hepatocytes were virtually unchanged. The rate of decline in P450 concentrations in hamster hepatocytes was intermediate between those displayed by rat and rabbit hepatocytes. These studies have delineated conditions useful for the culture of hepatocytes from four species and have documented the status of an important parameter of their functional capability.

A technique for the isolation of chicken hepatocytes and their use in a study of gluconeogenesis

A new technique was developed for the isolation of chicken liver parenchymal cells. Glucose produced from 10 mM lactate was proportional to the amount of cells present. In the time-course study, gluconeogenesis from lactate and fructose was linear up to 60 min. Fructose proved to be the best substrate. Fructose was converted to glucose at the highest rate; this was followed by lactate, pyruvate, and xylitol. Alanine, glycerol, propionate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and succinate proved to be poor substrates. There was no statistical difference between the results obtained with hepatocytes obtained from fed or fasted chickens. The isolated hepatocytes responded to glucagon, dibutyryl-cAMP, and epinephrine. The dose-response for glucagon was a sigmoid-curve and the half-maximum stimulation was given by approximately 1 x 10(-2) micrometers hormone. The same type of curve was obtained with dibutyryl-cAMP, but the half-maximum stimulation was achieved at around 1.0 micrometer. The response to epinephrine was marginal. In the time-course experiment, prior to glucagon stimulation, glucose accumulated at a linear rate (slope = .2484). After the addition of the hormone, the level of cAMP increased by about 30% in the first minute and reached a peak (100%) in about 2 min; thereafter, it decreased to the level prior to the stimulation by the hormone. Two minutes after the addition of glucagon there was a significant increase in the rate of gluconeogenesis; this continued for another 3 min and then at a slower pace (slope = .2566).

Effect of methylamalonic acid on gluconeogenesis in isolated rat and guinea-pig hepatocytes

Gluconeogenesis from pyruvate, alanine, lactate and propionate was inhibited by methylmalonate in both rat and guinea-pig hepatocytes. The effect was dose-dependent. Gluconeogenesis from glycerol and xylitol was not affected.

Gluconeogenesis in isolated chicken (Gallus domesticus) liver cells

1. Gluconeogenesis was studied in isolated avian hepatocytes. The highest rate of glucose production obtained was from lactate, followed by dihydroxyacetone, glyceraldehyde, and fructose. Alanine was converted to glucose at only about 4% the rate of lactate. 2. Addition of 10 mM sorbitol, xylitol, or ethanol to the hepatocytes increased glucose production from pyruvate 25-40%, while glycerol addition increased it only 9%. 3. Addition of beta-hydroxybutyrate had no effect on glucose production from lactate or pyruvate. 4. Addition of octanoate had no effect on glucose production from pyruvate, but depressed it from lactate at 5 mM. 5. Differences in the formation of glucose from various substrates suggest some basic differences in the mode of glucose production between the chick and the rat and guinea-pig.

Gluconeogenesis in the guinea pig. Effect of glucagon on gluconeogenesis from lactate by isolated perfused guinea-pig liver

Gluconeogenesis was stimulated by glucagon in fed but not fasted isolated perfused guinea pig livers. Both the amount and the rate of incorporation of radioactivity into glucose from L-[U-14C]lactate were increased in fed livers by the addition of glucagon to the perfusate. The glucagon-stimulated increase in gluconeogenesis was accompanied by an increase in oxygen consumption, an increase in the amount of lactate carbon converted to glucose and a decrease in the amount of lactate carbon converted to CO2. The results are interpreted to indicate that glucagon affects gluconeogenesis from lactate in fed livers by redirecting the fate of substrate from other products toward glucose.

Preparation and characterization of isolated parenchymal cells from guinea pig liver

1. A method is described for the preparation of isolated cells from guinea pig liver. This involved perfusion in situ, in the non-physiological direction, with collagenase. 2. The cell yield was 20--30%, comparable with those from the livers of other species. 3. The ratio of lactate dehydrogenase to glutamate dehydrogenase in the cells was similar to that in vivo, indicating that there was negligible leakage of cytoplasmic enzymes. 4. The concentrations of K+ and adenine nucleotides were initially lower than in the perfused liver; normal values were obtained on incubation, particularly in the presence of substrate. 5. The L-lactate: pyruvate ratio is 16:1, close to established values. The total beta-hydroxybutyrate: acetoacetate ratio indicates that the mitochondrial redox state is more oxidised than in the perfused liver, but the intracellular ratio is similar to that of the intact liver. 6. Rates of gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis, are within the physiological range. Maximal gluconeogeneis from L-lactate was preceded by a lag period. L-lysine stimulated glucose production from L-lactate but did not abolish the lag phase. 7. The effects of aminooxyacetate and octanoate on L-lactate gluconeogenesis were similar to those in the perfused liver.

Preparation and biochemical characterisation of isolated parenchymal cells from adult sheep liver

1. A simple procedure for the isolation of morphologically intact, metabolically viable sheep liver parenchymal cells is described in detail. 2. The method is based on the initial treatment of fresh liver slices with collagenase and hyaluronidase. 3. The cell preparation was studied with respect to membrane permeability, potassium content, ATP/ADP ratio, adenylate content, and gluconeogenic capacity with respect to various substrates. 4. Data are present with respect to the distribution of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in isolated cells and whole sheep liver. 5. The results are compared, where possible, with data currently available from isolated perfused sheep liver and multi-catheterised animals.