Abstract
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 togethen, glycogen was deposited in both zones. The results cortoborate the model of metabolic zonation predicting that periportal glycogen is synthesized indirectly from gluconeogenic precursors while perivenous glycogen is formed directly from glucose.