Effect of Alloxan on Isolated Liver of the Bull Frog.

Abstract

The isolated liver of the bull frog, Rana catesbeiana, is perfused with amphibian Ringer soln., to which in various expts. O2, glucose, alloxan and epinephrine are added. The glucose concn. of the perfusate collected from the liver is determined and compared with the initial glucose concn. of the perfusion fluid. The observed differences are interpreted as reflecting glycogenolysis or glycogenesis in the perfused organ. It is found that alloxan stops both the spontaneous and the epinephrine induced hepatic glycogenolysis. These results demonstrate that alloxan has a direct effect on the liver. It is concluded that the initial hypoglycemia, which occurs during induction of alloxan diabetes, is at least in part of hepatic origin.