Insulin, glucagon and glucose in the regeneration response of the liver

The effects of intraduodenal glucose load on the hepatic uptake of insulin, glucagon and glucose after a 70 per cent hepatectomy were studies in anesthetized dogs. Dogs without a hepatectomy served as the control study. Data were derived from plasma concentrations in the portal vein, aorta and hepatic vein with simultaneous portal vein and hepatic artery plasma flow measurements. The concentrations of glucose in the arterial blood of dogs after a hepatectomy were less than those for the controls throughout the study, while insulin and glucagon concentrations showed no differences between the groups. Hepatic uptakes of insulin, glucagon and glucose per gram of liver perfused were significantly greater in the hepatectomy group and occurred because the amounts of these substances reaching the liver remnant were the same as those for the controls. The increased uptake of insulin and glucagon after partial hepatectomy may reflect increased binding of these hormones to the liver cell receptors, by which hepatic regeneration is induced. Increased glucose uptake could serve as the substrate for the accelerated anabolic processes.