Is the Peripheral Utilization of Glucose a Regulator of Hepatic Glucose Production and of Glycemia?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of an increase in peripheral uptake of glucose on its release by the liver in rats. If cross circulation is established between a normal and eviscerated rat, the turnover of glucose is elevated above that observed in single normal rat, indicating that the increase of glucose consumption from the system into which the liver releases glucose leads to an increase of the rate of glucose production. The duration of this compensation however is limited to about 90 min. Cross circulation established between diabetic and normal, non-eviscerated and eviscerated rats in different combinations demonstrated that the overall rate of glucose turnover is nearly identical in all such preparations although the level of glucose in the plasma is in inverse relationship to the metabolic clearance of glucose and is directly related to the amount of previously insulin-deprived tissues in the preparation. It appears that at least in such preparations the overall utilization rather than the plasma level of glucose is being regulated primarily.