Failure of Diazoxide to Affect Carbohydrate Metabolism of the Isolated Liver

Abstract

Diazoxide stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis and inhibits hepatic glucose uptake. To determine whether these effects reflect direct action of the drug on the liver, the effect of diazoaride on the isolated perfused rat liver was investigated. Exposure of glycogen-containing livers to concentrations of diazoxide as high as 180 [mu]g/ra\ for as long as 4 hours did not result in decrease in liver glycogen, increase in hepatic glucose output, or increase in urea production. Diazoxide did not inhibit glucose uptake and glycogen deposition by glyco-gen-depleted livers presented with glucose loads. Direct action on the liver is not a contributory mechanism to the diabetogenic effect of diazoxide.