Relative contribution of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to basal, glucagon- and nerve stimulation-dependent glucose output in the perfused liver from fed and fasted rats

Abstract

The relative contribution to basal, glucagon- and nerve stimulation-enhanced glucose output of glycogenolysis (glucose output in the presence of the gluconeogenic inhibitor mercaptopicolinate) and gluconeogenesis (difference in glucose output in the absence and presence of the inhibitor) was investigated in perfused livers from fed rats with high and from fasted animals with low levels of glycogen. 1) Basal glucose output in both states was due only to gluconeogenesis. 2) Glucagon-enhanced glucose output was due about equally to glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the fed state, but predominantly to gluconeogenesis (80%) in the fasted state. 3) Nerve stimulation-increased glucose output was due mainly to glycogenolysis (65%) in the fed state and about equally to both processes in the fasted state. The results suggest that under basal conditions of normal demands the liver supplies glucose only via gluconeogenesis and thus spares its glycogen stores, and that in situations of enhanced demands signalled by an increase in glucagon or sympathetic tone the liver liberates glucose mainly via glycogenolysis.