The involvement of calcium in the stimulation of respiration in isolated rat hepatocytes by adrenergic agonists and glucagon

Abstract

The effects of adrenergic agonists and glucagon on respiration and cytosolic free Ca2+, measured with quin2, in female rat hepatocytes have been compared. In the presence of lactate, all three agonists caused a permanent stimulation of respiration. However, unlike phenylephrine, glucagon induced only a transient increase in cytosolic free Ca2+, and isoprenaline caused no detectable change. Mechanisms other than Ca2+ for respiratory stimulation by cAMP-linked agonists in liver are indicated.