Glucose, Lactate and Potassium Metabolism in the Isolated Perfused Rat Liver.

Abstract

Summary 1. During the anesthesia and dissection preparatory to perfusion of the rat liver, there were small losses of tissue glycogen and a slight increase in water content. During the 3-hour perfusion, the water content returned to normal and the Na and K concentrations of the liver were maintained. 2. The perfused liver removed glucose from the circulation if the concentration were greater than 15 mM, and added glucose if it were less than 15 mM. The liver was able to utilize lactate produced from the circulating red cells. 3. During glycogen formation in livers from starved rats, both glucose and lactate were utilized. The rate of glycogen formation was not limited by a lack of K.