Effects of flow rate and insulin on triacylglycerol secretion by perfused rat liver

Abstract

In rat livers perfused with undiluted rat blood at perfusion rates of 6, 12, or 18 ml/min, hepatic O2 consumption rose with blood flow. Lipogenesis was unaffected by blood flow in control livers and was enhanced by insulin at 12 and 18 ml/min. Very-low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerol secretion also rose with increased flow and was stimulated by insulin at both 6 and 12 ml/min. When glucose was added to livers perfused at 12 or 18 ml/min, uptake was independent of perfusion rate and was slightly stimulated by insulin. Total lipogenesis and the secretion of newly synthesized fatty acids in very-low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerols were unaffected by insulin at either flow rate. The hormone stimulated triacylglycerol secretion at 18 ml/min but inhibited it at 12 ml/min. It seems that in perfused liver, effects of insulin on lipogenesis and very-low-density lipoprotein secretion may be modified not only by changes in O2 consumption (in this case through alterations in blood flow) but also by the choice of substrate.