AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 251, Issue 6 660-E663, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Secretion and degradation of insulin and glucagon in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury rats
T. Ikeda, T. Takeuchi, Y. Ito, I. Murakami, O. Mokuda, M. Tominaga and H. Mashiba
To elucidate the mechanism of hyperinsulinemia and hyperglucagonemia in
liver diseases, secretion of insulin and glucagon from perfused pancreas
and extraction of insulin and glucagon by perfused liver were investigated
in carbon tetrachloride inhalated liver injury rats. Fasting plasma insulin
and glucagon levels and insulin and glucagon levels after arginine
injection (0.25 g/kg) in liver injury rats were significantly higher than
those in control rats. Glucagon levels after glucose injection (0.5 g/kg)
were slightly increased in the liver injury group. Insulin responses to
16.7 mM glucose and 10 mM arginine from perfused pancreas were similar in
liver injury rats and control rats. Glucagon response to 10 mM arginine
from perfused pancreas was also similar in liver injury rats and control
rats. Insulin extraction by perfused liver in liver injury rats (45 +/- 9%)
was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than that (64 +/- 11%) in
control rats, and glucagon extraction by perfused liver was also
significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased in liver injury rats (57 +/- 8%)
compared with controls (73 +/- 9%). It is concluded that in carbon
tetrachloride-induced liver injury rats, hyperinsulinemia and
hyperglucagonemia may be dependent on decreased insulin and glucagon
extraction by the liver.
