Glucose-sensitive afferent nerve fibers in the liver and their role in food intake and blood glucose regulation.

The discharge rates of glucose-sensitive hepatic vagal afferents and glucose concentrations in the portal vein showed an inverse relationship in experiments performed using isolated and perfused liver preparations and in in vivo experiments on the guinea pig. The rate of discharge of these afferents in the rat was facilitated following administration of insulin and inhibited after application of glucagon and CCK. Hepato-pancreatic, -adrenal and -hepatic reflexes initiated through vagal hepatic afferents were demonstrated in the rabbit, guinea pig or rat. The results obtained suggest that glucose-sensitive vagal afferents from the liver play an important role in the control of food intake as well as in the control of blood glucose levels.