[Hormonal control of hepatic metabolism in ruminants]

Insulin/glucagon control of hepatic metabolism, i.e. a endocrine-nervous system, is one of the general systems of integration in vertebrates. In this system, substrates coming from the digestive tract or from extrahepatic metabolism are important messenger molecules. Liver uptake of insulin and glucagon mainly accounts for high metabolic clearance rates of these hormones in both ruminants and non-ruminants. Glucagon infusion into ruminants results in an increase in the net hepatic uptake of glucose precursors and gluconeogenesis. Glucagon effects have also been demonstrated in isolated hepatocytes. Glucagon, through its effect on pyruvate carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.1.) may regulate gluconeogenesis. Insulin infusion induces hypoglycaemia. As a result, glucagon secretion increases and counterregulates insulin action. However, it has been shown that hepatic gluconeogenesis decreases during euglycaemic hyperinsulin clamp, mainly due to a decrease in the hepatic supply of glucose precursors following insulin action in extrahepatic tissues. Insulin fails to elicit any significant effect in vitro. Hepatocytes exhibit insulin and glucagon receptors. The apparent characteristics of hormone binding in vitro are similar in ruminants and non-ruminants, but the characteristics of postreceptor events are unknown in the former. Glucagon, which influences hepatic glucose synthesis, may be a major hormone in ruminants.