Antagonistic effect of insulin on glucagon-evoked hyperpolarization. A correlation between changes in membrane potential and gluconeogenesis.

In the perfused rat liver, administration of glucagon causes a hyperpolarization of the liver cell membrane and increases gluconeogenesis. Insulin, a hormone which is known to antagonize the effect of glucagon on gluconeogenesis also blocks the hyperpolarizing effect of glucagon. Because of this inhibitory effect of insulin of the glucagon-evoked hyperpolarization, a systematic study of possible correlation between changes in membrane potential and gluconeogenesis was undertaken. The membrane potential was changed by valinomycin, tetracaine, or by varying the ionic composition of the perfusate. A highly significant correlation between changes in membrane potential and the rate of gluconeogenesis was noticed. The possibility was raised that changes in membrane potential might exert an influence on metabolic process by a yet unknown mechanism.