[Structural and functional interrelations between the liver and endocrine system of the pancreas in disorders of...

Experiments on male rats have shown that correlative interrelationships of the liver and endocrine apparatus of the pancreas depend on the content of corticosteroids in the body. The administration of a physiological dose of hydrocortisone raises the synthesis of RNA, phospholipids and glycogen in the liver accompanied by B-insulocyte hypertrophy. Large hormone doses result in the suppression of protein synthesis in hepatocytes with further development of fatty degeneration of the liver and hypofunction of pancreatic islet B-cells. Corticosteroid deficiency causes metabolic derangement of hepatocytes, a rise of the quantity and synthetic activity of pancreatic A-cells which can be corrected by means of hydrocortisone substitution therapy.