Hormonal Influences on Liver Lipid Partition, Carbohydrate and Electrolyte Metabolism in the Rat

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The partition of liver lipids and their respective content in the liver, liver glycogen, plasma glucose, and the water and electrolyte content in plasma and liver were compared in adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized-alloxanized groups of rats with the respective values found in intact groups. Similar analyses of tissue constituents were done in groups of intact rats 60 min. after the injn. of epinephrine, and after insulin, and the results compared with those found in intact non-treated rats. Similar analyses of tissue constituents were also made 60 min. after the infusion of a standard glucose load in intact, adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized-alloxanized groups of rats. The data obtained showed that: carbohydrate oxidation and lipogenesis or neutral fat mobilization were greater in the adrenalectomized rat than in the intact rat; the evidence indicated that glucose oxidation was proceeding under the unopposed action of insulin in the adrenalectomized rats, but the changes in the levels of the various lipid fractions appeared to be mainly under the hormonal influences of the adrenal gland. Both epinephrine and insulin appeared to affect in a similar pattern the partition of liver lipids with significant quantitative differences in some fractions. The hormonal status of the animal also appeared to determine the effect of glucose infusion on the lipid partition as well as on carbohydrate and electrolyte metabolism.