[Gluconeogenesis in perfused rat liver following preservation in various temperature ranges]

Experiments with perfused rat livers have shown that rates of various metabolic processes are influenced by changes in temperature in different ways. Cytosolic processes exhibit a linear temperature dependence when plotted in an Arrhenius-diagram in the range between 37 degrees and 1 degree C. In contrast, processes which are bound to mitochondrial membranes show phase changes at 22 degrees C. Furthermore, with gluconeogenesis another phase was observed at 11 degrees C. After 24 hour of perfusion at 11 degrees C the livers produced more glucose from gluconeogenic precursors when perfused at 37 degrees C than after perfusion at 4 degrees C. The importance of the balance of metabolism during hypothermia is discussed by comparison with metabolism of poikilothermic animals.