Influence of extracellular phosphate concentrations on the regulation of hepatic glucose output

Experiments were carried out to investigate the role of extracellular phosphate in the hormonal regulation of glycogenolysis in perfused fed-rat liver. Omission of phosphate from the perfusate did not affect the ATP, ADP and AMP contents of the tissue and the basal glucose output from the perfused liver. However, it inhibited significantly the glycogenolysis induced by glucagon, cyclic AMP, phenylephrine and vasopressin but not that induced by 2,4-dinitrophenol. In the absence of perfusate phosphate, the increase in phosphorylase a activity caused by the addition of glucagon, phenylephrine and vasopressin was significantly less than that observed in the presence of perfusate phosphate. Insulin inhibition of the glucagon- or cyclic AMP-induced glycogenolysis was abolished when the perfusion was carried out with the phosphate-free buffer. However, the inhibitory effect of insulin on phenylephrine-induced glycogenolysis was clearly demonstrated even when the perfusate contained no phosphate. These data indicate that in the phosphate-depleted liver, the hormonal control of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of phosphorylase is impaired. The difference in the phosphate dependency of insulin action on glucagon-and alpha-adrenergic agonist-induced glycogenolysis suggests that the mechanism or site of insulin action on glucagon and phenylephrine is different.