Effects of cadmium, zinc, copper and manganese on hepatic parenchymal cell gluconeogenesis

The effects of divalent cations on gluconeogenesis in enzymatically isolated rat hepatic parenchymal cells were examined. Cadmium, zinc and copper decreased glucose production from lactate (10 mM). However, manganese at 0.05 to 1.0 mM levels stimulated gluconeogenesis by the cells and reduced the effects of the Cd+2, Zn+2 and Cu+2 on gluconeogenesis. The results indicate that under these in vitro conditions the cations altered an aspect of hepatic function--gluconeogenesis from lactate.