Effect of PGE1 on gluconeogenesis and glycerol esterification in perfused liver of fasted rats

Using perfused livers of rats fasted for 48 hours, glucose production and incoroporation of 2-14C pyruvate (trace dose) into perfusate glucose were studied. Both were found to be inhibited by PGE1 (infuced at a concentration of 0.5 mu/min) by about 60%. The incorporation of 1-14C glycerol into perfusate glucose and into glycerol-glyceride part of the liver glycerides were also studied, using the same test conditions. The former incorporation was significantly inhibited (56%) and the latter strongly stimulated (360 %) by PGE1. PGE1 had no effect on glucose production in a perfusate overloaded with sodium pyruvate, nor on pyruvate carboxylase and phospho-enolpyruvate carboxykinase activity. this was in contrast with the results obtained in perfusions with a trace dose of 2-14C pyruvate. The results showed that PGE1, at the physiological concentration used, stimulated the incorporation of 1-14C glycerol into glycerol-glyceride part of liver glycerides and, when there was no overload of pyruvate present in the perfusion medium, inhibited gluconeogensis at some point, possibly, but perhaps not exclusively, between the glycerol and glucose steps.