Glucagon acutely regulates hepatic amino acid catabolism and the effect may be disturbed by steatosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Glucagon is well known to regulate blood glucose but may be equally important for amino acid metabolism. Plasma levels of amino acids are regulated by glucagon-dependent mechanism(s), while amino acids stimulate glucagon secretion from alpha cells, completing the recently described liver-alpha cell axis. The mechanisms underlying the cycle and the possible impact of hepatic steatosis are unclear.

Methods

We assessed amino acid clearance in vivo in mice treated with a glucagon receptor antagonist (GRA), transgenic mice with 95% reduction in alpha cells, and mice with hepatic steatosis. In addition, we evaluated urea formation in primary hepatocytes from ob/ob mice and humans, and we studied acute metabolic effects of glucagon in perfused rat livers. We also performe

SUBMITTER: Winther-Sorensen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7560169 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature