Cytoimmunochemical study of pyruvate kinase isoenzymes in rat liver

Using immunofluorescence and double-labelled antisera L and M pyruvate kinase (PK), we show that PK is localized in hepatocyte cytoplasm. The response is modulated by different dietary and hormonal conditions. In physiological conditions, only L PK is noted: slight with normal diet (or 35 micrograms of glucagon) and non-existent with starvation (or 350 micrograms of glucagon). L PK fluorescence is maximal after a carbohydrate-rich diet. In experimental or genetic (Zucker rat) hyperinsulinemia, hepatocytes are both L PK and M PK positive. After partial hepatectomy, this double specificity is found between 48 h and the 7th day. The decrease of PK fluorescence after starvation or glucagon concerns the L PK form of the enzyme. With exo- or endogenous insulin, the increase of PK (as insulinemia assays from Zucker rats or after partial hepatectomy confirm) is essentially due to the presence of M PK in hepatocytes.