Hepatic extraction and hepatic action of insulin, glucagon, and epinephrine in bivascularly perfused rat liver.

Using a bivascularly perfused rat liver, we investigated the hepatic extraction and hepatic action on glucose output of insulin, glucagon, and epinephrine. The liver was perfused for 70 min without recirculation via the portal vein and hepatic artery (3.0 ml/(min.g liver) from portal vein and 1.0 ml/(min.g liver) from celiac artery). Low and high concentration of insulin, glucagon, or epinephrine (450 and 4,500 pM, 21.5 and 215 pM, or 410 and 4,100 pM, respectively) was added to the perfusing medium via portal vein (P-liver), via celiac artery (H-liver), or via portal vein and celiac artery (H-P-liver). Hepatic extraction of insulin, glucagon, or epinephrine was not significantly different among H- (56 +/- 9 and 21 +/- 5%, 31 +/- 7 and 24 +/- 6%, or 22 +/- 8 and 17 +/- 5%), P- (50 +/- 10 and 23 +/- 6%, 32 +/- 9 and 23 +/- 7%, or 22 +/- 9 and 18 +/- 6%), and H-P-liver (55 +/- 11 and 24 +/- 6%, 30 +/- 9 and 26 +/- 8%, or 20 +/- 9 and 17 +/- 6%). Glucagon- or epinephrine-induced increase in glucose output was also similar in H- (245 +/- 47 and 498 +/- 82 mumol/30 min, or 112 +/- 21 and 215 +/- 38 mumol/30 min), P- (258 +/- 51 and 512 +/- 95 mumol/30 min, or 128 +/- 20 and 220 +/- 36 mumol/30 min), and H-P-liver (263 +/- 58 and 515 +/- 94 mumol/30 min, or 129 +/- 22 and 225 +/- 39 mumol/30 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)